The Proliferation of Nuclear Warheads - Essay Example

Neo-Realists would not buy into the idea that treaties or other laws could actually do a great deal to control the spread of nuclear weapons. Neo-realism essentially states that there are states that succeed and states that fail based on their behavior, and that a state will do whatever it can to survive, often emulating successful states.  As nuclear weapons can be seen as impregnable defense against invasion, as one could always use it to utterly dismantle an invading country as a last result, countries will obviously seek this course.  There is very little incentive to abide by international law, and a great incentive to fail to do so (or simply opt-out).

Liberals pay much greater attention to the economic side of things than other political theorists, basing a great deal of weight of international relations on what happens economically. A liberal would argue that the best way to assure a lasting peace is twofold: to promote economic development in countries to give them fewer reasons to go to war or have strife, and to create stronger international trade agreements, because countries that are close trading partners both stand to suffer a great deal should they go to war with each other.
This article demonstrates that terrorism is largely in the eyes of the beholder. The tactics that he has supposedly undertaken if allegations are to be believed, would certainly constitute terrorism in almost anyone’s mind: he killed civilians with a tube of toothpaste.  Yet, he was also a CIA operative.  This makes one think that many of the terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan might be considered freedom fighters if one were to shift one’s perspective slightly.  This shows that terrorism can be very subjective in nature.

A realist would believe that emerging economies have a chance at creating world peace because the more stable a country is the less likely it is to engage in armed violence. A liberal would likely agree because they see the emergence of economies as essentially linked to free trade policies and a lack of economic interference by the government.  Thus they would argue that developing economies, by fostering greater trade relations with foreign countries and stabilizing their own internal politics, would be less likely to be either the victim or the perpetrator of international violence, as they have significant amounts to lose.     Read More