Theories of International Relations

Facts about world politics do not interpret themselves. To explain why states go to war, cooperate, or build institutions, scholars use theories, which are simplified frameworks that highlight certain actors, motives, and dynamics while downplaying others. The major theoretical traditions offer competing lenses, and understanding them is essential to analysing any global issue.

Realism

Realism is the oldest and perhaps the most influential tradition. It begins from the premise that the international system is anarchic, meaning there is no world government above states to enforce rules or guarantee security. In this self-help environment, states are the central actors, and their overriding goal is survival, pursued through the accumulation of power. Realists emphasise the national interest,