Title: The state offensiveness in the international system: a theoretical discussion on political realism

Authors: Evaghoras L. Evaghorou

Addresses: Department of International and European Studies, University of Piraeus, 80, Dimitriou & Karaoli Str., 18534, Piraeus, Greece

Abstract: The offensive realism theory, on the basis of political realism as a broader view of studying the international relations, supports that the offensiveness of states is an intrinsic element of the system's structure. Analysing this hypothesis, we draw conclusions about the validity of the current position's methodological process. Testing the validity of the assumption we use a comparative analysis between the classical realistic position for human's bad nature and the thesis of structural realism for the systemic need to pursue power. Following the comparison of these two opposing positions, we examine the dilemmatic version of war and peace and we underline the importance of the term balance of power for keeping the stability in the system.

Keywords: international relations; political realism; offensive realism; international system; human nature; system structure; great powers; state offensiveness; cooperation; war; peace; balance of power; system stability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPLAP.2014.057883

International Journal of Public Law and Policy, 2014 Vol.4 No.1, pp.14 - 23

Published online: 21 Nov 2014 *

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