Realism and Idealism - Essay Example

Current Event – Conception of Justice: Realism vs. Idealism It is by far more sensible and effectual to execute around idealism whose moral behavior overcomes the rigidity and narrowness of power politics confined in the realist approach. As it appears, the entire logic and set of principles realism rest on, have assumed that the international realm is anarchic by nature (Beavis). In this picture are independent states which coexist under constant tension so that each state seeks to preserve itself, usually against the interests and at the expense of other states.

Realist theory further argues that adopting a moral aspect in its paradigm would weaken the state’s power, in direct proportion with the best eligibility to offer itself protection by means of utilizing much of military control (Beavis). ‘The Prince’, authored by N. Machiavelli, one of the major realism proponents, characterizes a realist state as one that holds absolute rule of a ruthless leader who ought to prefer being feared than loved (Theories). It then accords for the this theory a measure of success through the potential to achieve goals without having to regard whether or not the process comes justified with virtuous sense other than strategies.

In this fashion, obviously, the relation we have established with state is as ‘subjects’ or it is at least difficult to comprehend the level at which we’d claim belonging as ‘its people’. Take for instance a U.S. nation where every citizen is inclined to get by the latest trends in technology and relevant aspects of industrialization or the modern thinking of wellness by achieving personal satisfaction through continuous individual endeavor, an increase in self-respect is established as a consequence.

With an improved sense of well-being, one chooses to act with freedom that yields a more conscious attachment to the golden rule of acting with liberty yet preserving the value of not causing any potential impedance on anyone’s path. Because a person at this stage is shaped by a justice model aimed at even distribution of resources, one learns the essence of working interdependently so that the desired individual objectives are made capable of casting reflections that affect others in the similar manner.

The outcome of the conceptualized justice in application should however ensure agreement on base policies that constitute every individual’s freedom in relation to the welfare of the rest of the society. In this fashion, J. Rawls took to account the social contract proposed by Locke as well as the equal allocation of all social primary goods. While the typical odds may direct it to the risks of acquiring a communist profile along with the corresponding disadvantages thereof, American culture has become sufficiently flexible to adopt an ideology patterned after Rawls’ proposition.

If liberty, wealth, opportunity, and confidence have been met in the process such that these good attributes vary in enhanced proportion for one person as well as with the others then the ideal turns into a habitual process toward real circumstances. From this point, hence, springs forth the hope to develop a neutralizing proposition to be liberated out of the former severity. With idealism, or liberal institutionalism in one form, international relations are spontaneously worked as a function of humanitarian traits.

At this perspective, relations go beyond the once was realization and meeting of ends chiefly. Engaging into the international system with depths of selfless rational thinking, state affairs shift from independence to interdependence with other states in which common interests are sought after. Eventually within such setting, any moral behavior created on an interpersonal level reflects an equating significance with foreign regulating standards as trust and confidence among the states become progressively interrelated (Theories).

Works Cited Beavis M. “IR Paradigms, Approaches and Theories.” IR Theory. 9 Feb. 2010. Web. 11 May 2010. “Theories of International Relations.” SparkNotes. SparkNotes LLC. 2010. Web. 11 May 2010.