What is Realism in Global Politics?

What is Realism in Global Politics? This video looks at the Global Politics and International Relations theory of Realism, advanced by Political Scientists such as John Mearsheimer, that believes state power is of the utmost importance. Realists believe that because you can't trust any of the states around you, taking care of your own interests, and focusing on the growth of your power should be of the utmost importance.
Sources:
Global Politics Guide, 2017, International Baccalaureate.
Heywood, Andrew. Global Politics. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.
Mearsheimer, John J. "The False Promise of International Institutions." International Security 19, no. 3 (1994): 5-49. Accessed April 21, 2020. doi:10.2307/2539078.
Murphy, Robert, and Charles Gleek. Global Politics: Supporting Every Learner across the IB Continuum. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education Limited, 2016.
Sens, Allen. "Balance of Power." • Balance of Power
Images:
John Mearsheimer, www.mearsheimer.com ​
Merkawa Mark IV Tank, By MathKnight and Zachi Evenor - Own work, CC BY 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index... ​
Flags by freeflagicons.com

[@KorczyksClass]

Check out some more of my Global Politics videos here! kzbin.info/aero/PL-MZyeaK_bhvgZfBQ_AfjizWO27-YzXeB

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[@stanleyzhang5964]

Hi Mr.Korczyk, I am your student from John. G. Diefenbaker high school, I remember you was my social studies teacher back to 2019 or sometimes before Covid, and I was followed this channel at that time. Few years after I became a junior student in the UofC studying International Relations. I study the history and global politics all day. Just wanted to say thanks to you and this channel, it played a very important role to helps me learning politics and history, whatever from high school or in the college, helps me creating lot interest to my major. Everything you post in this channel is related to my major class! Btw I am very happy to see you even after so many years, that feeling is amazing, when I see your face it led my memories back to high school but hearing the knowledge of my major.

[@immanueldiai8089]

Sadly, although Realism might not explain international politics perfectly, I think it is the most accurate theory that explains why states behave the way they do.

[@bosnjodobri8260]

Constructivism is only accurate

[@nadineandreaputri9037]

The explanation is so simple and easy to understand! Thank you for your help!

[@KorczyksClass]

I'm glad you found my video helpful. Thanks for the kind words! 👍😁

[@catarinaalexandre291]

THANK U SOO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP! please never stop doing this videos!

[@KorczyksClass]

Thanks for the kind words! :)

[@andrewsansone9929]

Great video - writing an essay on US-China relations and this helped me formulate a concise idea of how Realism can be applied when analyzing US/China. Thanks so much!

[@KorczyksClass]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@Diademic111]

realism is rooted in paranoia.. I'm a second year political science student at the University of Western Ontario and I really appreciated this video, thank you

[@helenkvitvaerr1872]

thank you so much! I am doing global politics in the IB programme, and this was super helpful!🥰

[@KorczyksClass]

I'm so glad you found it helpful! It was definitely made with IB Global Politics in mind. :)

[@carlotaplacidolopez5906]

you just saved me from a 5 page essay!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank You!!!

[@KorczyksClass]

I'm glad it helped you out!! 👍

[@maisami8874]

we must thank you for amazing explaining ,Your videos are so helpful

[@KorczyksClass]

Thank you so much! I'm so glad you found them helpful!

[@shahabmesgarzade2841]

Wonderful, the way of your understanding will make the world much easier for enthusiasts. I found the meaning properly 👍.

[@KorczyksClass]

I'm so glad you found it helpful! Thank you so much!

[@petermorgan5645]

Great video. Really distilled out the essence. Thank you.

[@KorczyksClass]

Glad it was helpful!

[@isabakker8410]

Thank you for your videos, they help a lot!!

[@KorczyksClass]

Thanks! I'm glad you're finding them useful! 😁👍

[@Heyappleknife27]

Fantastic analysis and easy to understand. I am gladly going to come back and watch your videos to help myself with my geopolitical studies 👍

[@KorczyksClass]

Glad you found them helpful!

[@iqranaeem2933]

I had a presentation on this topic "Realism", and i was really confused about it , but once i watched your video. It really helped me. I got the whole theory. Thank you so much

[@KorczyksClass]

Glad it was helpful!

[@abbyfannon4395]

This helped me understand realism so much better! Thank you!

[@KorczyksClass]

Glad it helped! All the best! :)

[@afolabifunmilayo9354]

From Nigeria, nice video

[@KorczyksClass]

Thanks! 😃

[@michaelsher6692]

Thanks for explaining this very clearly! I was having trouble understanding this term because of online lectures haha, and this clarified a lot.

[@KorczyksClass]

That's great! I'm glad it helped. 👍

[@sebastianh9267]

got my a level politics paper 3 tomo, thank you very much for this vid it’s helped a lot

[@KorczyksClass]

I hope your exam went well!

[@FunFrenzyChallenges]

I really appreciate your efforts. The video was really helpful.

[@KorczyksClass]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mahnoorehsan6325]

this was very very easy to understand now that I watched your video, thank you!

[@KorczyksClass]

Glad it was helpful!

[@josephmorgan3881]

Cheers for this, got an essay due that's about how useful Realism is when studying The Ukraine/Russia conflict and this is very helpful

[@studentw9967]

Thank you once again. Very helpful.

[@KorczyksClass]

Glad it was helpful again!

[@jibrilshallholma2698]

This helped I’m having an examination tomorrow

[@KorczyksClass]

I'm glad my video helped! Good luck on your test!

[@Mithrandir1983]

Preparing for exam and your explanation helped a lot. Thanks.

[@KorczyksClass]

Glad it helped!

[@sarven5974]

Only tanks around here are merkava's chief! Jokes aside, very informative! A nice and brief rundown of the theory of realism.

[@KorczyksClass]

Haha, impressive tank knowledge! Thanks again for checking out my videos!

[@aisteadomaviciute4409]

Your videos are so helpful!

[@KorczyksClass]

Thank you!! I'm glad they're helping you out! 😊

[@marial4048]

🙏thank for this piece.

[@KorczyksClass]

My pleasure! I hope it was helpful! Thanks for the comments!

[@Flawsomeeeee]

From Bangladesh🇧🇩 This class is so important for me. Thanks a bunch dear sir.😊

[@KorczyksClass]

You're so welcome! I'm glad you found my video helpful! 😊

[@mo-215]

excellent breakdown. I like your green Izod alligator shirt.

[@KorczyksClass]

Thanks! I wasn't aware Lacoste used to be an Izod brand... I had do some googling - thanks for helping me learn something, haha.

[@fanveen]

love your vids man! sometimes i wish you were my course lecturer haha!

[@KorczyksClass]

Haha, thank you for the kind words! Best of luck with your course! 😊

[@mwelwamulubwa4534]

Thank you well explained

[@KorczyksClass]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nthabisengmokonyane5028]

I am super grateful that I stumbled upon this video because I did not really understand the theories even though I had an idea of what they are about. I have an essay to work on about the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and now that I understand what exactly 'realsim' is I am positive that I can get my points right when writing. Thank you very much. Let me even subscribe to your channel 🙂

[@KorczyksClass]

Thank you for the comment! I'm glad you found it helpful. Best of luck on your essay!

[@Nasserist1969]

How about USA hegemony and imperialism?

[@kevinrandalrulach]

Well explained. Thanks.

[@KorczyksClass]

Glad it was helpful!

[@seematomar792]

Thankyou very much...♥️♥️

[@KorczyksClass]

You're very welcome! I hope it helped! 😊

[@olivestogo4880]

My teacher had us watch this for a global politics class. Everything makes sense, nice job. I gotta say, though, you sound _incredibly_ nervous. Are you doing OK?

[@KorczyksClass]

Hahah, thanks? This is one of my earlier videos... I think (maybe) I've gotten more comfortable? Haha. I'm glad things made sense!

[@manofqwerty]

Realism seems to describe how the world actually works, though people do try different forms of liberalism such as the EU, it always comes back to realism.

[@KorczyksClass]

That's a good point. One of the arguments for realism is that as soon as one state in an international system acts based on realism, it makes Liberalism that much more difficult.

[@alinasadura3325]

Thanks a lot for your video! Maybe you can explain the problem of morality in political realism theory? It'd be great :)

[@KorczyksClass]

Thanks! That's a good topic for a future video. I'll definitely keep it in mind!

[@KorczyksClass]

In short though, one way of looking at morality in political realism is that it has to do with the role leaders see themselves having. Realists see that their primary responsibility is the security of their people. So by focusing on their state's power, it's ensuring the security of the people they're responsible for, and so the decisions they make in attaining that power are morally justified.

[@phuongtranhuu8487]

thank you so so much

[@KorczyksClass]

You're very welcome! Glad you found it helpful!

[@zemasound5948]

excellent review thanks sir

[@KorczyksClass]

You're most welcome. Thanks for the comment, all the best!

[@jorelndelo1433]

Thanks so much sir

[@KorczyksClass]

You are most welcome! I hope you found my video useful!

[@omkaarpattanayak]

Great job.

[@KorczyksClass]

Thank you! All the best!

[@keziahbayson3526]

Thank you!

[@KorczyksClass]

Hope you found it helpful!

[@dharshnak9624]

thank you so much for this video sir, am watching it in 2022 ..... pls do videos on international relations sir (an analytical one) looking forward to a video on collective security .. love from India 🥰

[@KorczyksClass]

Thank you for the comment! I'm glad you found it helpful. While I don't have a specific collective security video (yet)... My most recent video on global governance does address it. You can check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGWpn2anipeDh5I

[@dharshnak9624]

@@KorczyksClass kudos for your effort sir

[@stellaezeigwe4602]

Really helpful👏🏻

[@KorczyksClass]

I'm glad you thought so! Thanks for watching! 😊

[@jennifertello3349]

Thank you for the explanation! I’m taking an international relations class in college and this helped me a lot! What two American politicians would you categorize as realists?

[@KorczyksClass]

I'm glad you found my video helpful! It's interesting with American politicians in the last few administrations, because both republicans and democrats for a while had pursued more liberal goals, with slightly different priorities. George W. Bush's presidency, for example, focused on spreading democracy and protecting America's liberal hegemony that way. I'd say Donald Rumsfeld in the GWB administration was more of a realist, though, with some of his focus on American power in the middle East. Same could be said for Dick Cheney. Obama focused on global cooperation through support of liberal institutions like the UN. I'd say Trump is definitely the big realist of the lot, and so a lot his appointments, like Pompeo, etc... Would definitely fit the realist mold more than any others. Trump's America First priority to focus on American power and US interests over cooperation is clear, and Trump's inauguration speech definitely leans into realism, too.

[@jennifertello3349]

@@KorczyksClass wow thank you so much! This is great insight and it’s clarifying a lot of things for me!! Thank you once again!!!

[@quanghuyvo6112]

@@KorczyksClass "spreading democracy" what a nice way of say imperialism

[@judemoore4770]

@@quanghuyvo6112 better than the domino theory

[@quanghuyvo6112]

@@judemoore4770 domino theory is a load of bullshit is never happen and will never happen, is just a scare longer tactic for the less intelligent mass

[@agathashoham]

Helpful!

[@KorczyksClass]

I'm glad!

[@snehamanasimaji2536]

Thank you sir. Night before LLM exam...you saved

[@KorczyksClass]

I hope it helped!

[@lawschooldiaries]

Thankyou

[@KorczyksClass]

Welcome!

[@athenacosmicdreamer198]

I propose the idea of a continental order of independent system

[@user-wv3be4kf4b]

Hi sir! im your new subscriber!

[@KorczyksClass]

Thanks for the sub!

[@henrypaulsimfukwe1376]

This was powerful

[@KorczyksClass]

Thank you! I hope you found it helpful!

[@henrypaulsimfukwe1376]

This was very helpful with my studies

[@rayreyes8044]

Ole Mearsheimer! I was always about hegemonic rule until I read his books.. I'm more a realist now...

[@nessalehner8295]

thank you for the clear explanation! i tried to read a book about realism for a quiz but i didnt get anything lol

[@KorczyksClass]

Glad I could help! Best of luck on your quiz!

[@Sadiqkhan-om9cy]

which of the following theory explain international political system better realisam or liberalism?

[@KorczyksClass]

You might find another video I made helpful - it compares both of those theories. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fp2XZHWfr6yXa8U

[@athenacosmicdreamer198]

I like the idea of a continental order

[@basedman7568]

seems like a facet of materialist analysis

[@phideliaserwaah8788]

Sir please does realist believe that war is rooted in human nature?

[@justinealdrixramirez268]

May ask, what are the realist country?

[@sanazaheer4469]

What is anarchy

[@KorczyksClass]

In the context of the IR Theory of Realism - it's the idea that there is no international governing body superior to the state.

[@amirtawfik7495]

👍

[@user-jo2gb7hy9q]

ur goood

[@KorczyksClass]

Thanks. I hope it helped!

[@tonynl2002]

Love your video!!Anyway ,Sadly the Realism could not predict the disintegration of Soviet Union

[@KorczyksClass]

Thanks for the comment! Yeah, that's a tricky one for Realism - but there's definitely a realist argument for Russia's post Cold War behaviour.

[@youfenyuan7204]

Saya tidak percaya ia boleh menjadi sebaik ini

[@user-qu8zi2df6o]

The reality in politics is the realization that God did not create this world in the complete perfection... And this is achieved by the realization that interdependency and cooperation makes perfection and power... You can not impose a policy where one does not have the same capabilities as you are... Not every nation were created in the manner that what you have, are the same things we have...It is in sharing these gifts and developing it. To benefit everyone would be most ideal...Is that liberalism.to a certain degree... Leadership of course are for those nations are capable and equipped to lead and acquire power....

[@Montacap1]

Oh so Texas is our big risk then. They even sell there own tea in the enemy state of Oklahoma they are also a huge state and the only one allowed to fly there flag at the same height. Thought to be had there.

[@92100mark]

Realism should probably be rooted in reality. But then why is it a theory built entirely in academia? And how can Mearsheimer criticizes the reality of US policy on the basis of realism? Probably because realism (the theoretical objective optimal strategy) is not the only source for decision making. The only interesting subject is why. I see a number of reasons: 1) Politics (domestic and international) is not only a zero-sum game. It is not like chess. - If it was a zero-sum game, it would be stable. Clearly, it is not. - in a zero-sum game, everything should be objective: every actor should have the same information, the same analysis, etc - Is nuclear deterrence - often used by Mearsheimer - a zero sum game? 2) Domestic and International politics interfere with one another (at least in democracies) and different segments of the population, lobbies, ...need to be taken into account. It is not inconceivable that traitors, corrupt decision makers or "useful idiots" (wink wink, nudge nudge) also need to be taken into account. 3) As soon as we plan for the future, we are taking a risk as nobody knows the future 4) When taking a risky decision, risk sensitivity must be taken into account, including the possibility that the information is corrupt and/or the models you use are flawed 5) An element of chance will always remain. History is deterministic to a certain level, but certainly not entirely. - In the end, it is rather obvious that adequate decision making should take into account facts (realpolitik). This does not seem a groundbreaking concept. But, the problem is that reality is complex, especially when there other agents are also at play. This is the premise of international relations that makes it interesting. Even physics is not considered purely deterministic today; how could international politics be? - So, in conclusion: 1) "realism" should be rebranded "naïve realism". 2) politics is not exactly like chess (sequential perfect information game); it is a complex mix between at least chess and go, backgammon, bridge and poker. Diplomacy is a good model of that game with very simple rules and endless possibilities. 3) Mearsheimer should behave like an academic to analyse and try to explain (as a genuine realist) what happened and why, rather than declare that what happened should not have happened on the basis of his subjective version of realism. - As a reminder, I hope Mearsheimer's infamous interventions in the media will follow him forever: 1) Ukraine should yield to Russia's demands of self-destruction because realistically, it has no chance of winning the war. War is bloody, so you should only go to war when sure of winning. 2) The US, NATO and the 141 UN countries that voted against Russia's illegal invasion should recognize "realistically" their demands will never have any influence. International law and institutions are not realistic, they have no merit and are useless. 3) The US and NATO should always yield to Russia's threat because it is in their best interest to believe that Russia could blow up the planet if they don't. Realistically, you should always yield to nuclear powers. 4) Nonetheless, the US should treat China as an enemy and go to war if needed because realistically they are catching up.

[@thenightwatchman1598]

"Realism should probably be rooted in reality. But then why is it a theory built entirely in academia?" because it is a dogma that justifies why politicians dont actually do what the people want. in other word, its a post hoc excuse for corruption and putting self interest over moral concerns.

[@DobsOutdoors]

Your shirt would be cooler if it was polo.

[@rhuttrho888]

More division, hatred and evil

[@lunthuak2114]

Somebody gotta teach realism in Ukraine.

[@sivaforutube]

Not good.