Overview of Theoretical Points of View in Political Science

Running head: POLITICAL SCIENCE
POLITICAL SCIENCE
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2POLITICAL SCIENCE
Table of Contents
1. Overview of the theoretical points of view............................................................................3
1.1 Realism.............................................................................................................................3
1.2 Liberal Institutionalism....................................................................................................3
1.3 Constructivism..................................................................................................................3
2. Different state behaviour and outcomes in an anarchical international system.....................4
3. Most Convincing Theoretical Standpoints.............................................................................5
Reference List............................................................................................................................6

3POLITICAL SCIENCE
1. Overview of the theoretical points of view
1.1 Realism
Political Realism emphatically implies a combined impact of the theories concerning
international relations, where the interests of the nation state, their role as well as display of
military prowess in the context of world politics becomes evident. The domain of studies of
international relations have been dominating international relations since the Second World
War. Realism emphasises on persisting patterns of interactivity in the context of an
international system that lacks an inherent political control. As opined by Niebuhr, this
anarchic condition implies that there is a difference between policies of domestic politics and
the logic implied in international politics. There is always an acute pessimism among the
realists regarding the proximity of a dramatic systemic reform.
1.2 Liberal Institutionalism
This theory emphasises that importance should be given to international governance
and as well as the international organisations in order to justify international relations.
Institutionalism relies on the roles played by mutual goals in international systems and
capacity of the global organisations to get the nation states to co-operate with one another.
This theory vehemently despises the proposition of the realists that there is always a power
strife among the scopes of international politics. On the contrary, Hay states that this theory
presents the picture of a world in which specific in contrast to the state as an entity, involves
directly in world politics. This theory imagines that force is only an ineffective instrument in
policy making.
1.3 Constructivism
Constructivism is a relatively new theory of international relations that is poised to
justify certain aspects of realism, neoliberalism as well as Marxism. All the aforesaid theories