Structural Realism Neorealism, Also Known As Structural Journal

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Structural Realism

Neorealism, also known as structural realism, is a theory associated with realist perspectives. According to this perspective, all nations and all departments within national governments are competing with each other for power. In this war for dominance the various factions compete to gain power particularly if it is at the expense of power of other groups. Structural realists believe that society as a whole has a structure which may not be discernible but that it is an undeniable truth. The guiding principal behind this school of political thought is that it is only power which regulates and dictates international relationships. The quest for power and the desire to maintain the level of power that a nation state already has will be directly involved in the decisions that are made by that government's leaders (Waltz 1987,-page 75). The various groups who are in competition for power have no choice but to engage in these political disagreements because if they do not then they will not survive (page 85). Rather they will be absorbed into the government or under the leadership of the dominant group. Waltz (1987) writes, "The survival motive is taken as the ground of action in a world where the security of states is not assured, rather than as a realistic description of the impulse that lies behind every act of state" (page 85). A consequence is that there is always violence between the competitors and as long as there is a need for groups to compete for power then the world will be a dangerous place for those involved and for innocent bystanders as well.

Structure is the most important component of this school of thought (Waltz 1987,-page 73). Not all structural realists agree about the exactitudes of these power exchanges.

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For example, defensive realists believe that the structural factors which control the quarrel for power limit the amount of power that can be gained by the individual states and therefore also impacts how much that faction can defend itself against its enemies (page 76). Offensive strategists believe just the opposite. They hypothesize that the structures that are in place encourage the spread of domination and the accumulation of national power.

All governments, by the definition of their creation, are an organization with power. According to Waltz (1987), "Political structure produces a similarity in process and performance so long as a structure endures" (page 80). They have power over their citizens and, based upon their economic position and their ability to persuade allies, various nations have more power than others. International relationships add to the strength of the country in question and to the leaders of that country (page 100). Without power over the citizenry, there is no way for a government to maintain authority and the government and more than likely the entire nation will fall into chaos and anarchy. International disputes begin when one political group determines that they do not have enough power as they currently exist….....

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