In the discipline of International Relations realism, which developed as a reaction to idealism during the Cold War, has become the dominant school of thought . Realism makes power the currency of international politics. Realist argue that by accumulating power states can ensure the security of the population within the state. They see sovereign states to be the sole actors in the international system. They perceive the states as unitary rational-actors and the system itself to be anarchical. However, these notions are increasingly being challenged.
This paper will focus on realism and the criticism of this ideology. Realism will be analyzed using feminist perspectives, which asks who is being made secure. Realism will be show to be derived from a Western-centric world-view, which limits its usefulness and is not as accurate a gauge to examine other non-Western states. Furthermore, this paper will demostrate that current realist assumptions are detrimental to the health of the Earth. By discussing these varying points realism will be shown not to be the best and only method of discourse in international security.
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