Classical Realism and International Relations

This assignment examines Japan's historical actions from the perspective of Classical Realism, a theory of international relations emphasizing human nature's inherent self-interest. Students are tasked with analyzing how this theory explains Japan's motivations and actions, considering its strengths and weaknesses in explaining global events like war and diplomacy.

Running head: CLASSICAL REALISM
CLASSICAL REALISM
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

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The concept of international relations has evolved over time. With this evolvement, it
has led to the creation of various political theories such as Liberal Internationalism, Classical
Realism, The English School, Marxism, Neoliberalism and others (Burchill et al. 2013). The
foundation of the Classical Realism has been established after the sorrowful and tragic end of
the Second World War. Classical Realism states the notion that the occurrence of
international politics and political discord lies on the inherent features of human essence and
identity. Order is regarded as the pivotal point of Classical Realism (Seifert 2013). Some
proponents of Classical Realism believes that order helps in the molding of nations and by
which humans can bring a positive transformation in the environment albeit in a ponderous
process. The essay outlines the fact to demonstrate an explanation of a theory of international
relations and to present a reflective writing in collaboration with the theory.
Assumption is said to be an occurrence, which is inevitable, bound to happen, and
does not require any attestation of facts. Assumption can be related to any things,
establishments or even human beings. The theory of Classical Realism is based on many
valid assumptions (Brown 2012). I believe, they are-
 According to their innate nature, human beings are self-centered and possess
weak ethics. They cannot liberate themselves from the immoral act that they
took birth to reflect on their actions.
 The impulsive craving for power and control over any person or entity is the
most universal, persistent and menacing inborn nature of human and it
surpasses all other nefarious tendencies of humans.
 The prospect of wiping out the impulsive craving for power among humans
can be termed as an idealistic or utopian expectation. Utopian expectation
involves the belief to expect for something quintessential or consummate. In

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fact, the belief seems too good to be true and is not always enforceable in
reality.
 The famous political scientist, Thomas Hobbes summed up global politics as a
fight for power and a struggle of everyone against everyone.
 The concept of global methodology states that all nations must develop strong
and effective defense system to combat any potentially dangerous aggressive
action committed by any foes.
 In terms of nation-building art, defense power holds more relevance than
financial power. Financial power serves only as a requirement to procure
national authority, influence and class.
 The prospective confederates can assist a nation to hone its capability to
protect itself. However, its allegiance and steadfastness must not be
conjectured.
 The nations must never blindly delegate the duty of self-defense to
intercontinental corporations and must take steps to modulate global
comportment.
 The fundamental objective of every nation must be to publicize national
concern and interest and to secure sufficient leverage to facilitate the
objective.
 Expansion of powers will only show its results when there is a presence of
equilibrium of power, expedited by effort-less alliance networks.
Many eminent political scholars have associated themselves with the theory of
Classical Realism in International Relations. The propagators to the theory of Classical
Realism are known as Classical Realists (Rossi and Sleat 2014). Each of the Classical
Realists has left their marks upon the arena of International Relations with their big ideas.

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Niccolo Machiavelli has emphasized his concept of classical realism in his brilliant
book, The Prince (Machiavelli 2014). Machiavelli states that state protection can be studied
as a type of power which itself can contribute to the upkeep of state authority.
Thomas Hobbes, another supporter of the classical realism theory stressed on the
substantiality of order. The existence of order is paramount in the understanding of Classical
Realism (Spragens Jr 2015). Order can aid humans to transform the world into a beautiful
place by incessant evolvement, organization and adaption.
Hans Morgenthau, who is considered to be a latter-day Classical Realist thinker,
remarkably emphasizes upon the prevalence of a global ethical code that possesses the ethical
obligation to steer reasonable and rational stagecraft (Levine 2013).
Reinhold Niebuhr, the renowned American political analyst led to the formation of
the movement of Christian Realism. He had played a major role in the sequences of the
Second World War and had based his religious notions on Protestantism (Troy 2013). He was
extremely well liked and charismatic in his native country- United States and also in the other
continents.
From the above discussion of the classical realists, I can understand that the Classical
Realists differed in their views and opinions within the realm of Classical Realism. Their
varied viewpoints and outlooks make the study of Classical Realism fascinating and
unputdownable.
Classical Realism has many striking strengths and similarly, inconspicuous
weaknesses. According to me, the study of both strengths and weaknesses makes the theory
of Classical Realism so arresting and contradictory. The strengths of Classical Realism are-

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Classical Realism helps to provides us with a valuable perception as to why the gory
and brutality has miraculously lessened since the advent of the 20th century. It states the
reason to be the inherent effort of the progressive democratic nations to bring the other
nations into their liberal and advanced domain. Classical Realism identifies the necessary
requirement for all the theories of International Relation to be in touch with the practical
world and harsh reality (Frankel 2013). Classical Realism also links specific contextual
scenarios for distinct occurrences. Classical Realism advocates peace and harmony and
actively dissuades human beings from committing any acts of ruination or spoliation since it
strongly upholds the notion of a utopian world. The theory of Classical Realism states to us
that the possible abolition of disputes and acts of destruction is not related to the financial
materialism but to the development of harmonious relation and comradeship among the
modern states.
The weaknesses of Classical Realism are-
I believe that Classical Realism places undue emphasis on the assertion of power and
authority. The cupidity of power cannot be evaluated or certified. Therefore, it challenges the
authencity of Classical Realism. It places the foundation of Classical Realism on dubious
grounds. The theory of Classical Realism also tends to undermine the role of important
facilitators such as the intercontinental firms and global organizations. In fact, at times, I have
seen that the external issues surrounding a state, such as governmental aggression, climactic
disruptions and population effects, influences the affairs of the state more significantly, than
the internal circumstances (Cox 2016). However, Classical Realism fails to take note of this
fact and therefore it cannot provide weighty clarifications about the recent global events. The
most mentionable weakness of Classical Realism is that it gives faulty commendation of the
practice of law and justice. It is not necessary, that law and justice will always act as a savior

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to all the problems faced by the global citizenry. There have been instances where the whole
ordeal of law was altered by an influencing personality to suit his or her devious action.
After the completion of this teaching period, I can say that my perspective on
international politics has definitely undergone a huge change. Previously, I used to think that
the cause of violent military actions could be attributed to the existence of deficiency in the
defense system or due to boundary violation or other political intricacies. Now I have
restructured my understanding in the lines of the assumptive conclusions of Classical
Realism. The 21st century has been terrifically marked with violent and horrible occurrences
of aggression, belligerence and war mongering. Certain instances, which can be cited, are the
US invasion of Iraq, the Russian annexation of the region of Crimea in Ukraine and the
horrific incidents of racial cleansing in the African countries (Kaldor 2013). I have learnt that
the insatiable greed of power makes the human population to commit such acts of butchering
and antagonism. Humans become blinded by their pleoxonia of power to such an extent that
they fail to reflect upon the possible, disheartening consequences of their actions.
Undoubtedly, humans are selfish and self-centered by nature. Due to this when a person
reaches to the peak of indomitable power, he or she fails to think straight and fanatically tries
to establish oneself in the minds and eyes of the public, as a God-like figure. This instinctive
nature can be related to the character analysis of many famous political leaders and can also
serve as a valid cause behind their regrettable exploitations. The scenario of global politics is
also nothing but an incessant fight for attaining maximum domination and supremacy over
countries and economies, alike.
If I have to take an illustrative example to highlight my reflections on Classical
Realism, nothing can be more appropriate than the Japanese aggression on the city of Pearl
Harbor in America. The incident occurred on the fateful day of December 7 in the year 1941.
It was the period of the Second World War (Prange, Goldstein and Dillon 2014). The whole

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world was deeply stupefied by this sudden and unexpected act of force and assault. America
was a rising superpower at that time and the other countries would think twice to plan the
destruction of such a strategic location in America. The attack committed by Japan was
simply unbelievable and far-fetched. However, a follower of the theory of Classical Realism
would not find it amusing because it directly correlates with the assumptions of its theoretical
concept. This act of treachery by the comparatively less powerful Japan can be attributed to
the notion of Classical Realism, which promotes the emergence of a utopian environment by
amplifying the necessary ardor and frailties of humans and by dissuading inhumanity and
ferocity. Additionally, Japan desired to attain full-fledged power to become one of the
superpowers.
At the end of this discussion, I have come to the conclusion that Classical Realism is
in fact a very well thought and distinguishable theory of International Relations. Classical
Realism is one of the oldest theories of International Relations, dated back in the era of the
Second World War. It has been subjected to intense evolution over the years. Classical
Realism has been propagated by the old generation thinkers as well as by the modern political
intellectuals. Like all theories, Classical Realism has its share of strengths and weaknesses.
However, it is one of the influencing theories of International Relations, which helps us to
reflect effectively upon the global acts of bloodshed and genocide.

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References
Brown, C., 2012. The ‘practice turn’, phronesis and classical realism: Towards a phronetic
international political theory?. Millennium, 40(3), pp.439-456.
Burchill, S., Linklater, A., Devetak, R., Donnelly, J., Nardin, T., Paterson, M., Reus-Smit, C.
and True, J., 2013. Theories of international relations. Palgrave Macmillan.
Cox, R.W. ed., 2016. The new realism: Perspectives on multilateralism and world order.
Springer.
Frankel, B. ed., 2013. Realism: Restatements and Renewal. Routledge.
Kaldor, M., 2013. New and old wars: Organised violence in a global era. John Wiley &
Sons.
Levine, D.J., 2013. Why Hans Morgenthau was not a critical theorist (and why contemporary
IR realists should care). International Relations, 27(1), pp.95-118.
Machiavelli, N., 2014. The prince and other writings.
McKeogh, C., 2016. The political realism of Reinhold Niebuhr: a pragmatic approach to just
war. Springer.
Pouliot, V. and Mérand, F., 2013. Bourdieu’s concepts. Bourdieu in International Relations:
Rethinking Key Concepts in IR, pp.24-44.
Prange, G., Goldstein, D.M. and Dillon, K.V., 2014. December 7, 1941: the day the Japanese
attacked Pearl Harbor. Open Road Media.

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Rossi, E. and Sleat, M., 2014. Realism in normative political theory. Philosophy
Compass, 9(10), pp.689-701.
Seifert, J., 2013. Back to'things in themselves': A phenomenological foundation for classical
realism. Routledge.
Spragens Jr, T.A., 2015. The politics of motion: The world of Thomas Hobbes. University
Press of Kentucky.
Troy, J. ed., 2013. Religion and the realist tradition: from political theology to international
relations theory and back. Routledge.