Political Realism - Case Study Example

Political Science Name: Course: Tutor: Date: Word count: 1510 Political Science Elements of a realist In a realist situation, politicians believe in laws of politics objectivity just like the way a society is governed by objective laws having human nature as their roots. Realism also believes in the possibility of a rational theory being developed and reflecting on one-side that is imperfect on the societal laws of objectivity. Hence, believes in the possibility of politics distinction between truth and the opinion between the objective and rationale truth, which is supported by evidence and reason illuminated. Reason and experience is the dual test subjected to politics as a theory. According to realists, theory is defined as consisting of facts ascertainment and meaning giving through reasoning (Morgenthau, 1978, p. 4). Universal moral principles maintained by realists cannot be applied to state actions of their universal abstract formulation, but are filtered through time and place, which are their concrete circumstances. Consequently, the political virtue of realism considered is prudence. The profoundness of political realism as a school of thought differentiates it from other schools because they maintain their autonomy of political sphere. This is because they usually think in terms of their defined interest of power Morgenthau, 1978, p. 7). Realism has its key concepts of interests as power, which is defined as a universal category of objectivity. Both political and cultural environments determine the content and manner of power use bearing in mind that it covers all social relations. Hence, transformation of the contemporary world by a realist is not persuaded to be brought by political reality confrontation Morgenthau, 1978, p. 9). Realism has been able to refuse to be associated with the moral aspirations of a nation bearing in mind the moral laws governing the world. This school of thought also distinguishes between truth and idolatry. In political realism, another element that has been discussed is the fact that, political action has been recognized as its moral significance. The only tension present in this school of thought is between moral command and successful requirements linked to political action. Definition of interest in terms of power helps political realism find the landscape through international politics. The link between reason in trying to understand international politics and facts understood are concepts provided by this school of thought. Politics being an autonomous action sphere and understanding differentiates between other spheres Morgenthau, 1978, p. 11-12). Elements of a liberal Liberal describes a person who is not inhibited by traditional or orthodox principles, tolerant and with an open and broad minded. Liberalist ideology is the dedication to an individual’s independence to decide and then enjoy the gains or bear the consequences. This enhances personal responsibility. Liberalism is conviction of the significance of freedom and equal rights. The main fundamental ideas supported by the liberals include liberal democratic system, free and fair elections, freedom of worship, constitutions, open trade and human rights. These ideas are generally acknowledged by political groups even those who do not follow ideologies of liberalism (Zaret, 1989). Liberalism is frequently referred to as the main ideology of present era. Politically, liberals have prepared expansively all over the globe. In many countries Liberal political parties, think tanks, and other organization are widespread, even though they campaign for diverse causes according to their ideologies and beliefs. Furthermore they can be divided into social and classical liberalism even though they are similar in their support for human rights and having democratic society around the globe. Major elements John Gray a Political philosopher the common elements of liberalism. These include the consideration of a person to be individualist, universalist, meliorist, or egalitarian. An individualist element states that the moral dominance of an individual against the demands of collective society, the universalist element states the ethical harmony of the human being and segregates local cultural diversity, the meliorist element aver that sociopolitical arrangements can be made better by the succession of on generation to another, and the egalitarian element allocate the similar ethical value and position to all persons. Liberalism has various ethical and political beliefs that are founded on traditions such as natural liberties and utilitarian hypothesis (Zaret, 1989). Thomas Hobbes, John Locke and Baruch Spinoza, who were early liberals, tried to establish the function of a regime in a liberal world. To them, getting the necessary amenities of life needed a creation of an autonomous authority to oversee the entire area of control. Other than establishing the apparent function of the authority or government in present society, liberals have been preoccupied over the significance and nature of liberty which is the key principle of liberal philosophy. According to early liberals liberty is understood as the lack of hindrance from the authority and also from other persons. They claim that any person ought to have the choice to build their own distinctive capability and competence devoid of being interfered with by others. Liberalism has received its share of criticism and support from diverse ideological factions. For example, feminism is thought to have arisen from liberalism, while others believe that liberal democracy is not enough for the realization of feminist goals. The main critic to the objectives of liberalism is conservatism (Zaret, 1989). The irresponsible quest by the liberals for advancement and material achievements has been attacked by the conservatives claiming that fixations like that leads to the destabilization of the conventional social ideals entrenched in the society. Although, there is a small disparity found in liberal conservatism in which it illustrates the similar thoughts and doctrines as shown by classical liberalism. Edmund Burke, considered to be the foremost advocate of modern conservative ideas, gave a skating analysis of the French Revolution by saying that liberal’s posture to the authority of prudence and natural impartiality between all human beings Marx theories Marxism is a collection of various theories that were developed by Karl Heinrich Marx, a German socialist, philosopher and economist. His development of socio-political theories has played an important role in the expansion of social science. These theories were mainly concerned with the economics and politics in the society. Marxism holds to the view that for a society to improve there must be a struggle among the diverse classes of people in a society. Karl Marx believed that capitalism was very oppressive to a section of the society where the majority is poor. The wealthy class of the populace was the ones dominating the economics of the society while majority population who are the working class worked for the gain of the wealthy. Marxism advocated for the proletarian revolution or socialism where the working class or the proletariat seize the management of the government and put in to place reforms that will be of good to their group thereby creating a classless society called communism. the various theories developed by The various theories include Marx’s theory of alienation, Marx’s theory of crisis and Marx’s economic theory. Marx’s theory of alienation The theory of alienation was developed by Karl Marx to expose the underlying impersonal forces within a given human activity dominating the society. This theory shows that although the modern society appears normal and free of us, it was shaped by the past human activities. Alienation theory leads to the materialist theory where humans were fashioned by the society they inhabit and the steps they could take to alter that society. Alienation mainly arose from land to human subordination, wealthy ruling class dominating the poor and the poor level of the industrious forces. Marx’s theory of crisis This theory of crises focus on the capitalist crisis brought about by the production and consumption of commodities. The disproportion of the production and consumption of goods whereby the purchasing power of the populace is low leading to under-consumption causes the capitalist crisis. Capitalist crises results from overproduction and under-consumption leading to fluctuations of profits. With the rate of profit becoming average thus the increase in the crises due to underinvestment in the production of products leading to poor demand. Karl Marx discarded the suggestion that the capitalist crisis was caused by unnecessary demands of wages by the working class. The actual pay usually increases when one is fully employed while at the same time rate of surplus–value increases although not at the similar proportion as the natural composition of the capital. This leads to reduction of the average rate of turnover thus the crisis (Meikle, 1985, p. 30). Marx’s economic theory Economic theory seems to explain the social economy of a given society. Social economy is the specific social relation between production and human beings. This theory leads to other theories of labour and value. The theory of labour is the analysis of the cost of production in terms of human labour is the foundations of exchange value of goods thus the theory of value. In a simple market, value is the average level in which prices of goods vary with the corresponding prices if collective labour is proportionally spread throughout the stages of production of goods among the various branches of production. Hence a state of balance is established at all levels of production (Tudor and J.M, 1988, p. 25). References: http://www.marxists.org/archive/rubin/value/ch08a.htm http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/morg6.htm Morgenthau, J. Hans. (1978). Politics among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. pp. 4-15 Meikle. (1985). Essentialism in the Thought of Karl Marx. NY: Open Court Publishing Company. Tudor, H. and J.M. (1988). Marxism and Social Democracy: The Revisionist Debate, 1896-8, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Zaret, David. (1989). Religion and the Rise of Liberal–Democratic Ideology in 17th- Century England. American Sociological Review. Retrieved from http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici Read More