Paper Topic:

War Politics and Democracy

Political Realism

According to realists , the conduct of international leaders differs very little from the conduct of a leader of a criminal organization Realists ' underlying assumption , i .e . that the international system is in the condition of perpetual anarchy , is close to how crime bosses perceive the neverending competition between different gangs , clans or crime families , like the one Tony Soprano heads . Just like in relations between competing crews or between criminals and the government , no progress towards lasting peace is possible in international relations . International relations are by definition

conflictual , unlike domestic matters of a state , since there is no supreme authority over sovereign subject which would possess monopoly on force similar to the one a state has on its territory . Conflicts in international relations , according to realists , are always resolved by the use of force . Here the analogy of Tony Soprano is particularly applicable , since he has killed at least eight people . Similarly , power in international relations , according to realists , is associated with military superiority and ability to defeat enemies

Crime families pursue their own interests using resources they command but they are well aware of resources and capabilities of their competitors . The same way states in international relations make calculations of their power and interests vs . power and interests of their rivals . Therefore , intelligence information (everything that can be used against competitors ) is equally valuable in international relations and criminal activity . Peace and stability is only possible when a durable balance of power exists that reflects actual...

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