POLSCI 1AB3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Power Projection, Warsaw Pact, Totalitarianism
3 Jan 2021
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*bolded text is info that was actually on the slides. Many in the field of international relations say yes. We discussed political idealism (that states that the problem is poorly designed international institutions) The second theoretical model that we looked at has a rather more pessimistic point of view; political realism states that the problem is anarchy. Political realists argue that the international realm reflects a darwinian struggle for survival - in the long run, only the fittest states survive. Realists see state power as the most important actor. International organizations (such as the imf, world bank, un) are tools / instruments of powerful states. Ex: in the un, the security council, made up of 5 powerful states, has veto power. States attempt to maximize national interests / national powers. States are always motivated and concerned with their survival. They must protect their power (with economic power, military domination etc. ) States want to maximize power over other states.
