Idealists and realists

In his analysis, Jessica Matthews observes that the steady concentration of power in the hands of states, which began with the signing of the treaty of Westphalia, is no more (Bova 252). In her view, there are many actors in the international system, including state and non-state actors. On the other hand, Krasner notes that the state is still the only powerful actor in the international system because it enjoys sovereignty (Bova 237).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Idealists and realists specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Idealists and realists have strong arguments as regards to the power of the state in the international system. To realists such as Krasner, the state is the only unit of analysis while idealists observe that there are many actors in the international system. Matthews’ analysis suggests that the international system is a community of both states and human beings. In this regard, foreign po licy formulation should recognize all actors. Therefore, the role of non-governmental institutions in foreign policy formulation should be respected. On their part, realists note that the international system dictates what should be done. In other words, individuals have no power to influence foreign policy formulation process because the process is dictated by changes in the international system. The international system is anarchical according to realists implying that there is no centralized authority. The reality of the matter is that the role of the state in the international system is diminishing due to the emergence of other actors such as international organizations, supranational organizations, and Multinational Corporations. In this regard, states must consider the views of other institutions before coming up with foreign decisions. In the current international system, the influence of Multinational Companies cannot be neglected. Some Multinational Corporations have adequa te resources that they use to influence states to make certain policies that favor them. In the developing countries, states do not control foreign policies because of the presence of rich individuals and Multinational Corporations. For instance, George Soros influenced the foreign policy making process in the communist states because he was extremely rich. He funded programs that aimed at eliminating communism. This affected the foreign behavior of states because they had to obey the rules set by an individual. Institutions such as the International Criminal Court affect the foreign behavior of states in a number of ways. States cannot act in a way that would invite criticisms from the ICC. In Kenya, the ICC has always shaped the foreign behavior of the state for the last five years. The state has been forced to comply with the provisions of the court in order to enjoy good diplomatic relations. Realists would argue that powerful states force weak states to sign agreements that do not favor their domestic interests. For instance, the US forces states to enter into agreements, such as being members of the ICC, yet it is not a member itself. This shows that powerful states use international institutions to achieve their national interests.Advertising Looking for essay on international relations? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In the international system, behavior of states is based on morality meaning that states observe international codes and morals. Realists would argue that morality is not considered when pursuing national interests because the end justifies the means. However, idealists do not share this belief because universal interests are crucial as opposed to national interests. Since states have a duty beyond their national borders, idealists observe that human rights must always be observed whenever a state engages in conflicts with other states. Organizations such as Amnesty International ar e recognized as genuine actors in the international system because of their efforts to fight for human rights. Realists agree that states must intervene militarily to restore democracy. However, states must conduct themselves in a manner that would guarantee fairness and equality. This means that professional codes of conducts must be observed whenever executing duties in foreign countries. In the battlefields, soldiers are expected to conduct themselves professionally by keeping away from heinous acts of crime such as rape, unnecessary murder, robbery, and violence. The US forces are always accused of unleashing terror to innocent people whenever they are sent to restore peace and democracy in war torn zones. Since American foreign policy makers appreciate morality, soldiers are usually charged in the martial courts, and stiff penalties are imposed on the accused. Idealism applies in the international system because international law has always guided the behavior of states. Cooper ation is one of the tenets of idealism, which is frequently employed in the current international system. Terrorism, environmental degradation, and the south-north gap pose threats to countries forcing them to collaborate to forge a working relationship. States cannot exist in isolation due to the threats posed by terrorists. Terrorism is a problem that affects both the rich and the poor states. It does not spare communists because terrorists do not care whether the leadership of the state employs capitalism or communism. An ideological difference among states is not a matter of concern to terrorists. States have struggled to form a global organization that oversees the production and consumption of nuclear energy due to threats of terrorism. States are concerned with how the weapons of mass destruction are produced and utilized. It would be disastrous in case the weapons get into the hands of terrorists. Therefore, the Atomic Agency is an organization that is charged with the respo nsibility of ensuring that nuclear energy does not get into the hands of terrorists. The organization has the right to investigate and inspect the production of nuclear energy in all countries.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Idealists and realists specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More States cooperate when it comes to nuclear disarmament programs because nuclear weapons threaten the security of all states. Under this argument, realists would argue that powerful states do not want weak states to acquire nuclear energy because it would threaten their national interests. Idealists believe that democracy and egalitarianism are particularly beneficial in attaining collective goals. In this regard, public opinion should always be considered when formulating foreign policy. Powerful states will always intervene militarily to restore democracy in regions affected by conflicts. The US was justified to intervene militarily in Iraq and Afghanistan because the regimes of these countries interfered with the rights of citizens. In Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia, the role of NATO was hailed because the regimes never considered public opinion when making policies. In the international system, states have always worked together to achieve collective security. The principles guiding states are based on norms, but not powers as suggested by realists. Realists give a contradictory opinion. They suggest that foreign policy is considered high politics meaning that public opinion should never be incorporated into foreign policy making process. In fact, realists believe that states form alliances due to mistrust and suspicion. According to realists, states would always do anything possible to maintain sovereignty. According to realists, the human nature is selfish and brutal. In this regard, national interests influence the formation of international organizations. Works Cited Bova, Russell. How the World Works A Brief Su rvey of International Relations. Boston: Pearson Longman, 2012. Print. Bova, Russell. Readings on How the World Works, Current Issues in International Relations. New York: Pearson, 2010. Print. This essay on Idealists and realists was written and submitted by user Ashlyn Buckley to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. 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Free Essays on Claras Internal Struggle

Clara’s Internal Struggle The family nurtures our earliest perceptions of the surrounding world. The family is what remembers us and continues our legacy when we pass away. Alex Haley once said, â€Å"In every conceivable manner, the family is a link to our past, a bridge to our future.† What we know of our family heritage helps us fashion our own identity; the descendants we bring up is all that remains of us after. Without knowledge of our family, our own existence alone means comparatively nothing. Most of our societal rules and norms revolve around many of our basic needs. Food, shelter, and sexual drives are a few of the things most of our society revolves around. The world has become far more complex and civilized that bashing the heads of our fellow humans will not be the most appropriate method to satisfy these drives. Many Sociologists believe that our sexual drives come from an instinctive need to pass on our seed to the next generation. How we go about doing this is another issue. Some people blaze a trail in the annals of this world before bidding farewell. They may not leave something behind physically as a son or a daughter to carry on their family name and traditions, but when they leave the world it is a changed place, and it is their legacy that continues on. We remember them for their acts of courage in the face of danger, victory when all odds are against them, and infamy enough to render the whole of history speechless. Most, however, have their children to honor their name after they depart this life. Though a little subtler than the former, it is an effective way human beings have survived, by passing down a piece of themselves to the next generation, through education, customs, food, culture, and genetics. Without family, a being would be neglecting him of something very basic in regards to survival in the grand scheme. Clara Holdfelder had many things that most women her age would envy: ... Free Essays on Clara's Internal Struggle Free Essays on Clara's Internal Struggle Clara’s Internal Struggle The family nurtures our earliest perceptions of the surrounding world. The family is what remembers us and continues our legacy when we pass away. Alex Haley once said, â€Å"In every conceivable manner, the family is a link to our past, a bridge to our future.† What we know of our family heritage helps us fashion our own identity; the descendants we bring up is all that remains of us after. Without knowledge of our family, our own existence alone means comparatively nothing. Most of our societal rules and norms revolve around many of our basic needs. Food, shelter, and sexual drives are a few of the things most of our society revolves around. The world has become far more complex and civilized that bashing the heads of our fellow humans will not be the most appropriate method to satisfy these drives. Many Sociologists believe that our sexual drives come from an instinctive need to pass on our seed to the next generation. How we go about doing this is another issue. Some people blaze a trail in the annals of this world before bidding farewell. They may not leave something behind physically as a son or a daughter to carry on their family name and traditions, but when they leave the world it is a changed place, and it is their legacy that continues on. We remember them for their acts of courage in the face of danger, victory when all odds are against them, and infamy enough to render the whole of history speechless. Most, however, have their children to honor their name after they depart this life. Though a little subtler than the former, it is an effective way human beings have survived, by passing down a piece of themselves to the next generation, through education, customs, food, culture, and genetics. Without family, a being would be neglecting him of something very basic in regards to survival in the grand scheme. Clara Holdfelder had many things that most women her age would envy: ...

Midterm Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Midterm Questions - Essay Example Anaximander, another Miletian philosopher and is said to be the first writer of philosophy, was said to be the first to draw a map and have speculated that the earth is not flat but spherical floating in air. The first scientific idea on the evolution of man is said to have be Anaximander’s first ideas out of his curiosity. 2. Part 1. For Anaximander the earth is cylindrical in shape; curved and round like a drum with flat surfaces and stays in equilibrium at the center of the cosmos. The heavenly bodies are according to him ‘breathing holes’ in the air. By this Anaximander is trying to explain the existence of the earth the sun and other elements in the sky. It is included in the history of philosophy because philosophy seeks to define what is real the same way Anaximander tries to relate the earth and the cosmos in a cyclical manner of things—why the sun, the moon and the stars are present in a cyclical pattern (Stamatellos,2006). Part 2. For Anaximander the earth never moves because in his cosmos the earth floats in the center and remains there by the forces surrounding it. Three of his astronomical speculations are: (1) that the celestial bodies make full circles and pass also beneath the earth, (2) that the earth floats free and unsupported in space, and (3) that the celestial bodies lie behind one another. Thus in his cosmos the earth is unmoved and everything else revolves around it (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2012). 3. Anaximenes’ grand theory talks about the air as major predecessors of things. He pointed out that the moisture from the earth has formed other heavenly bodies. Although Anaximenes’ belief is that the planets, sun and stars including the earth are flat disks, his assumption that these are above an â€Å"all-encompassing air† is one that is closely associated to modern thought of his time (Lawson, 2004). Anaximenes has his own way of explaining the difference between the planet and t he stars; that the planets are moving in connection with air while the stars are fixed on its positions. These ways of thinking are one of the closest founding theories of his time. Anaximenes also imparted the significance of hot and cold on the formation of existing bodies. His works became a global inspiration on the discovery of atomic properties of matter. Anaximenes’ beliefs centered on air as the primary ingredient in the formation of the universe. In comparison, Thales believed that water is the main predecessor, while Anaximander held on to the theory of the constant and limitless source of life. 4. a. Draw and label all of the parts of the Square of Opposition. (Image source: International Encyclopedia of Philosophy) b. Suppose that the proposition â€Å"Some* are* joggers*† is false*. For each one of the corresponding propositions, state whether it may be immediately inferred to be true or false. Provide a succinct explanation of how you reached one of your immediately inferred conclusions. A. All are joggers- universal affirmative E. Not all are joggers- universal negation I. Some are joggers- particular affirmative O. some are not joggers- particular negation Proposition A is false because not all people are joggers some can be swimmers and other kinds of athletes. While proposition E states true that some people are joggers