What are the properties of a billiard (or pool or snooker) ball? How do they behave?

Realism

A key theory of global politics

Learning Objectives

• To explain the basic foundations of the realist approach

• To interpret how this translates into a realist view of global politics

Billiard ball model

• States are impermeable and self-contained• They influence each other by external

pressure• These ‘collisions’ are linked to military or

security matters• Assumption that power and survival are key

concerns of the state• Diplomacy and possibly military action are the

principal forms of state interaction

Billiard ball model - implications

1. Clear distinction between domestic and international politics – state borders matter

2. Patterns of conflict and cooperation are determined by distribution of power among states – not all the billiard balls are the same size

Research task• You have 25 minutes to research Realism and

prepare a presentation• You’ll need to cover:– Key themes: power, states, egoism, anarchy, self-help

& survival, balance of power, ethics?– War & peace, security dilemma, arms race, balance of

power• Additionally, you’ll tell us about a key realist

thinker:– Team A = Niccolò Machiavelli– Team B = Thomas Hobbes

Presentations

Question time

• Devise 6 questions that can be used to test someone’s understanding of realism and realist thinkers– The questions don’t have to be limited to the

presentation you gave

Homework

• Find and summarise a news story that can be explained using realist theory.

– Due in Tuesday 24th

(250 words)