What is the contrast of realism and idealism in international relations?

Answer 1

• Realists are basically conservative people who follow the conventions of the society and thus, are more secure socially. Idealists, on the other hand, are nonconformists who are most likely to revolt against the set norms.
• Idealism is a theory of the futurists. While, realism is the theory, of the people who live in the present.
• Idealists aim for perfection. They set high goals for themselves and others. They believe that humans have vast potential, which should be harnessed properly to achieve excellence. Realists, on the other hand, settle for mediocrity. Realists only aim for achievable targets. That is why, to expect something extraordinary from them is out of question.
• Idealism is very impractical in today's world. Idealists are basically dreamers, who only look for a paragon and that too in the future. Since they are out of touch with reality, they are most liable to fail. Realists, on the other hand, are more grounded in reality and are better prepared to deal with the world around them.

Answer 2

In general, idealism holds that the representation remains uncertain as to its source. The thing in itself and the representation are not identical else they would be one. There is no way to absolutely ground the representations as to their source. Hume's anaysis of causality took this uncertainty to skepticism by describing the causal pattern of billiard balls as nothing more than patterns of colors where we psychologically attribute causal forces to one ball over the other. Hume reduced causality to an association, and there is no necessity in our associations, only random neurological formations. For example, one may see evil in money while others see only good. The formations people hold are accidental and random. Two managers react very differntly given identical situations. One may be rude while other apolegic, polite, etc. Idealism resolves the problem by mentally imposing categories such as causality upon various phenomena. Thus, the car hit the pole rather than the pole hit the car. The police impose the cause upon the phenomenon, but as the police know, some may still claim that the pole hit the car. We generally dismiss such claims as insane or false. The uncertainty issue was overcome by claiming that causality is a priori or innate law of mind, thereby avoiding the claim that causality is just a psychological phenomenon formed by random responses to various adaptative situations. Even substance is a mental formation. In general, realism holds that substances are real and have nothing to do with ideas. In other words, substances are not ideas nor are their properties reducible to mental qualities such as color or weight despite the relativity in our responses to these phenomenon. For example, one might see red while another sees blue or one feels the rock is heavy while another feels it as light. Which is it? These qualities are not subjective for the realist because they belong to the thing, not to our subjective feelings or mind. The realist would hold that the proof of such things is found in objective evidence that has nothing to do with the mind. Thus, colors are properties of the thing's features such as carbon absorbs white light perceived as black while lead has a specific weight and density in spite of who is holding it. A microwave will boil a specific amount of water in a specific time, and psychological associations have nothing to do with it other than learning or relearning that boiling water hurts. Cause and effect are real realtionships among substances, and the universe operates according to the laws of nature regardless of our habits or mental constructs.

Answer 3

Realism in international relations emphasizes power, self-interest, and the pursuit of security as the driving forces behind state behavior. Idealism, on the other hand, focuses on cooperation, morality, and the possibility of creating a more peaceful world through international institutions and norms. Realists believe that states will prioritize their own interests above all else, while idealists believe in the potential for states to work together for the greater good.

Answer 4

Idealism is when ideas or theories are formed using unrealistic data. Realism is when ideas or theories are formed using hard data and no specific results are expected.