POLS 2940 Midterm: Exam Notes 20
17 Jan 2019
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Insight = helped define the essence of realism. Desire for power + self-interest = fundamental in human nature. Reflection of characteristics of human being in the state = state as egoist. Human nature + motivation of fear + honour/self-interest = international politics as power. Power politics as a law of human behavior politics. Peloponnesian war = growth of power in athens. Fear for sparta impact of the distribution of power on state"s behavior. Also focus on the international environment in behavior of states. National interest (sparta) = survival = changing distribution of power. Direct threat to existence = necessity to go to war. More powerful (athens ) compelled to pursue power to preserve the empire. Thucydides also said acting only on self-interest without morals = self-defeat = athens defeat. Core principles of realism = survival, self help, statism. After the peace of westphalia = sovereign states as a principle actor in international politics =
