Abstract
The objective of this paper is to promote critical engagement with a wide range of theoretical and empirical issues regarding the applicability and relevance of Realism or Realpolitik in the new realities of today’s international politics. It draws on arguments taken from scholars but are reconstructed in a way useful to students of IR. It aims to evaluate the realist claim that international politics revolve around state actors and the pursuit of their national strategic interests in an anarchic international system. To assess this argument, Russian attitude towards the international community’s proposal for a resolution to intervene in the Syrian civil war will be reviewed. This will help to determine the applicability and potency of the core assumptions of Realism in today’s international politics.
Highlights
Even in the 21st century, decades after World War II and end of cold war, the Realist theory is still a dominant part of the study of International Relations (IR) and it has reared its head in the Syrian civil war
This example shows that the UN could never realize its aims of preventing conflicts and maintain world peace on its own without the authorisation of its members, especially the five permanent members of the Security Council due to the realist approach to international politics used by member states
The theoretical framework set forth in this paper presents Realism as a theory of IR, one that does highlight the role of sovereign territorial nation-states in international politics and one that seeks to explain why states act the way they do and emphasizes the persistent role of sovereign territorial nation-states in international relations .The system of sovereign territorial nation-states, George (1994:72) argued, is sustained against overthrow by the balance of power
Summary
Even in the 21st century, decades after World War II and end of cold war, the Realist theory is still a dominant part of the study of International Relations (IR) and it has reared its head in the Syrian civil war. Ray and Kaarbo (2011:4) noted that realism is a theoretical perspective for understanding IR that emphasizes states as the most important actor in global politics, the anarchical nature of the international system, and the pursuit of power to secure states' interests. In the most telling sign of Russia’s support for the Assad regime, Lavrov counselled that “the [Syrian] situation does not present a threat to international peace and security” For those routing for military action, he advised, “Syria is a very important country in the Middle East and destabilizing Syria would have repercussions far beyond its borders”- but the point was clear. Considering the advantages of the Russian-brokered compromise on the civil war, President Putin and his country gained substantial political capital from being able to frustrate western-inspired military action against an ally than from making efforts to protect it after military strikes are launched
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