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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

ASSIGNMENT 1: REVIEW OF ARTICLE

SUBMITTED BY:-MUHAMMAD HAIDER KHAN

(01-111102-122)

SUBMITTED TO: SALMAN ALI

DATED: 2nd November, 2011

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interests, which go beyond mere survival. Author also stresses that morality or a motive hasnothing to do with the success of a policy, rather success is determined by the quality ofrationality and logic behind any action.

His third principles says that interest of any politics/ state differs from time to time, and is not

fixed since humans also change their interest everyday according to different situations. In noway, this principle means that the interest defined as power is changed with something, Poweris certainly there in every time but its content always vary from time to time according to culturaland political environment. In some era, military power maybe the interest of a nation because ofits significance in that era and that may change in some other era when economy becomes themost dominating factor of that time. The author also states that balance of power is the most

prominent factor that strikes power hunger in nations; as long as there is balance of power, therewould be peace but instability in that balance which is mostly the case, then violence and warsare generally expected.

The fourth principle states that a states action in no way is effected by any universal moralityor law. Every state must act selfishly which is also the general case. Here the stress is again onthe discouragement of morality in politics and belief that no universal moral/ ethical principleshould be applied in politics, for example there is no law defined in a same way and treated in asame way throughout the globe.

Fifth principle also focuses on the potentially devastating consequences of overly moral state behavior. The Six Principles, which Morgenthau claims are not a systematic exposition of the philosophy of political realism, emphasize that states need smart, prudent statesmen who knowthe proper place of morality in political decision making that there is a proper role which is

acknowledged. It refuses to identify specific moralities of a nation or we can say faith orreligious notions of different states are not to be considered or identified while making adecision. Indeed, Morgenthau writes that A man who was nothing but political man would bea beast, for he would be completely lacking in moral restraints, but it is overshadowed by thenegative aspects of morality in international politics and the positive aspects of power, prudence,and intelligence (all good things too, I might add).

Sixth principle again stresses on the point of Interest in terms of Power by stating that just likean economist will measure and rationalize decisions in terms of economy, lawyer will think interms of the law, similarly, a political realist will always think in terms of power, for example he

will ask a question to himself before applying any polic y that how will this policy affect the power of our state?. Some examples of history are also mentioned in the article where anapproach in terms of Power had a better probability of benefit or favorable result.

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Personally, I have a few criticisms on these principles of realism that I think they are notmatching up to the todays scenario of the world.

First of all the most basic factor of these principles i.e. the relation of human nature with politicaldecisions and actions is a bit faulty because I think human nature is very relative and changeable,

it varies from time to time. Author has portrayed human nature as a selfish kind which is true in ageneral perspective but we all know that when the word humanity is mentioned, it doesnt giv ethe meaning of selfishness, rather it means selflessness, the main quality which differentiateshumans from every other thing. Therefore we should admit the fact humans sometimes do refuseto be selfish and power hungry.

Furthermore, regarding Balance of Power, the author has expressed that it is only the instabilityin Balance of Power that gives rise to violence and the race of superiority in terms of poweramong nations. Instability in Balance of Power creates the hunger among nations known aspower -hungry race, but my criticism to this point is that before World War 1, there was no

superpower state nor a division of alliances then why did that war started on the first place ?

I also believe that in todays world of extreme alliances and conspiracies, no state actor canfreely play a zero-sum game (taking action all for itself), there is always a positive-sum gamewhich means that not the whole benefit is aimed by an entity, rather a target is always consideredas a portion of that benefit being acquired and some part always goes to some other entity.

When we talk about Power Hunger among countries, picture of statesmen and their interestmay come to mind but one may also wonder that does the masses also support the phenomenaand could they be in this race of Power Hunger ? Certainly the answer would be no, because

general public is very aware of the violent consequences of power hunger which leads to war anddevastation, it is very clear and evident that they want Peace.

According to Political Realism, universal moral laws are not respected and do not affect anynations actions but this is proven wrong in todays world. Today, there are a few moral codesand laws which are being followed and respected among nations like the borders of any countryin sea-water which cannot be protected by any material signature like barricades, military check

posts etc. but a general agreement with the world regarding the acquisition of that area is to beconsidered. These marine boundaries are also followed with a discipline, for example any peoplewho cross the boundaries of a country in sea-water are captured by the defending country and a

proper action in manner of law is carried out against such people.These six principles are very powerful but controversial at the same time. I personally believethat this actually reflects the human nature and how things should be direct and without anyhypocrisy and complications. The thought of Power Race may give an impression of spurringa World War between nations but I believe it will create a defensive and logical action in politicsavoiding any deception and enmity between nations. To sum it up, these principles are the basic

pillars of the future Politics but more work is needed on the concept of Political Realism .