Research Paper on:
International Relations and Traditions of Liberalism and Realism

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
Familiarity with the perspectives of realism and liberalism in international relations can inform assessment of relations between nations. Realism is a long-standing component of assessment of events in international  relations, and liberalism can be used to explain the actions of nations and international associations such as the United Nations. Realism Dunn (2000)  writes that the term "realism" is used so freely and so frequently without definition that it seems to need no definition or clarification at all. This author notes that  the three principal realism theorists - Carr, Morgenthau and Waltz - all differ in their definitions of realism, however, and that their specific definitions vary according to aspects of international  relations that each wants to emphasize. Dunn (2000) provides a list of some of the most salient points of the realist school: * "International relations are amenable of objective  study. Events can be described in terms of laws, in much the way that a theory in the sciences might be described. These laws remain true at all places and  times... * "The state is the most important actor... the United Nations, Shell, the Papacy, political parties, etc, are all relatively unimportant... * "The first corollary is that the international  system is one of anarchy, with no common sovereign... * "A second corollary is that the state ... acts in a consistent way... * "Further, state behaviour is rational -  or can be best approximated by rational decision-making. States act as though they logically assess the costs and benefits of each course open to them... * "States act to maximise  either their security or power. The distinction here often proves moot as the optimum method to guarantee security is frequently equated to maximising power" (Dunn, 2000).