Abstract

The theory of relation is based on power politics. It gives importance to power and is related to achieving peace through power. Morgenthau believes the realism perspective is based upon a human's intrinsic nature. Thomas Hobbes in 'reductionisms as purpose' claim that inherently humans are bad. Power optimization is driving political realism and the balance of power maintains it. It is supposed that in the global system, the conflict between states is characterized by anarchy. In essence, human nature is anarchic, due to that everyone is in competition. In this study, the researchers attempt to throw light on different features of realism. It is discussed that the international system is more or less anarchical, as there is undisclosed competition every time. It is delineated that leaders are mainly involved in power politics After 9/11, George W. Bush, in order to gain power without consulting other countries chose to go for the Iraq War.

Key Words

Realism, Anarchy, Power optimization, Wars,  Competition

Introduction

Realism says the principal actors in the international system, means that only states are the main actors of the international system (Hyde, 2008). States and governments were central international actors that were responsible for the flow of influence along formally established tributaries for the international system (Stone & Ladi, 2015). This conceptual rigidity did not allow for the dynamics and change that occurred in the relationship between the government and another actor. Realism did not begin to falter, however in early 1970, then the post behaviouralism challenged the assumptions of a state-centric world. At the end of the decade, realism was competing with structuralism and pluralism as general explanations of international politics. By the 1980s, the realists had not only sustained various attacks by advocates of other paradigms but they had regrouped and counterattacked under the banner of neo-realism. Neorealism differs from traditional realism in that it is more open to the use of behavioral research techniques (Barry, 2019). They said that human nature is bad but there are no empirical pieces of evidence that can prove that inherently human nature.

According to BahmanFizouni the famous philosopher Morgenthau observed that power optimization is always in the need of the states so the process continues with the same space (Stefano et al., 2013).

For the theory of realism, the power optimization is essential. International relations can be managed through the knot of realism. This morality results in hindrances to obtaining power or using it as a guide to obtain national interest. In the second edition of "Theories of International Relations", Burchill states that while determining foreign policy, there is no space for individual preferences, prejudiced political philosophy, or ethical concerns as the related power of the state constrain the actions. In international relations, there are different ways to get the balance of power (Campbell, 2009).

One way is to weaken the opponents by colonial takeover or through the division, the other is strengthening itself against the rivals and the most common is to ally itself with other states. For those realists who think that peace can be achieved through strength, the balance of power is the toll for peace like Ronald Ragon thinks it as realism's theme.

There is another negative attribute usually attached to realism called imperialism. In the "Twenty Years" of E.H. Carr, it is mentioned that liberalism and utopianism are attached and throne which is praised in the realism context. The author was of the view that the utopian society's principals were illusions.

Campbell (2009) describes that realism became popular after the 2ndworld war. Morgenthau and Waltzare considered the founders of realism. Morgenthau is considered the founder of classical realism and Waltz is considered the founder of Neo-Realism. Sometimes there are contradictions in their points and these are:

? Morgenthau said human nature is bad. Waltz says there is anarchy in the international system.

? Morgenthau says states cannot change behavior Waltz says that states can change behavior.

? Morgenthau says states are involved in anarchy the other says non-state actors are also involved in the system.

? Morgenthau used the normative method while Waltz used the scientific method.




Basic Theory

? The international system is anarchical. There is competition and any every time.

? Realism mainly gives importance to the state in the overall international system of the world (Hyde, 2008).

? There is opposition to sub-national grouping in order to get power optimization

? The interests of each state are security and survival.

? They focus on relative power.




Realistic Paradigms

While thinking about the transition development of tradition, the idea of paradigm is appropriate. Tradition cannot be learned by memorizing propositions but them studying a classic model that is applied. This action gives a summary of six paradigms of the different golden ages in 20th-century America, 17th-century England, and 16th-century Florence. Although other weight has been theorem to go there, these six paradigms highlight an excellent indication of the range of views that characteristically are labeled as realism. The first among them is Thomas Hobbes.




Thomas Hobbes

The violent disputation of the 1640s English Civil War highly influenced his political views. By thinking that only people who are equal naturally are driven by competition, glory, and diffidence, it was assumed that anarchy and egoism get equal weight from strong realism (Johnson & Thayer, 2016).

In human nature, we find these three principles.

1. Competition

2. Diffidence

3. Glory

Completion makes man invade for gain because we all are equal each of us is expected to have as much as power anyone else.




Diffidence

From equality proceeds diffidence.




Glory

This leads them to light over reputation world.




Hans Morgenthau

He is one of the leading realists of the 1950s. He essays

? According to political realism, in general, objective laws having roots in human nature govern society, in general (Keaney, 2006).

? The concept of interest which can be defined as power is the landscape that helps political realism in international politics.

? Realism maintains that universal moral principles are not applicable to the actions of the state.

? Political realism refuses the identification of the moral aspiration of specific nations having moral laws.

? Political realism is different from other schools of thought which realize that political realist nature is profound intellectually and needs astronomy of the political sphere. From equality proceeds diffidence.




Kenneth Waltz

Anatole (1997) explains the main postulates of the theory which are discussed below:

? Kenneth Waltz's "Theories of International Political" book was the most influential theoretical work in the academic story of international realism. Today it remained a touchstone for both realists and their critics.

? Political structure is explained as a distinguished first by theory ordering political actors, principles are not organized in a hierarchy of subordination with its authority.

? Although Waltz argues that in a hierarchical order, every state is formally equal and autonomous but still cannot ultimately rely on its own resources after it realizes its own interests.

.

Game in Prisoner Dilemma

The simplest "game theory model" involved two rational actors. Each has two strategies available, one that is primarily cooperative and the other that is primarily competitive (Ley, 1988).




Thucydides Athenian Envoys

Realism is characteristic of both modern as well as ancient sources. Perhaps the most famous tent realist tradition is Thucydides' Million Dialogue. Peloponnesian history was among the Athenians and separated in the late 1st century BC. Like the other parables, we consider in Thucydides, the Athenians appeal to formal law that completely politicizes the realm of power and necessity. They are of greatest interest because they emphasize the conflict among toes of power and the demand for justice.

Machiavelli

Niccolo Machiavelli was the most prominent and the most stand out among all the realists of the earlier century. He was the playwright, theorist, and diplomatic historian of the 16th-century Florentines (Whelan, 2004).

Even nowadays, when someone mentions political anomalism or realism, Machiavellianism is the first thing that comes into mind. In such a case, the security of the world power should Be the biggest cancer. A prince should think of no other thing or any other thought but only about the art of war.




Why do States Want Power?

First of all, it is assumed that the powerful countries and nations dominate in world politics and they operate the whole world (Buzan & Lawson, 2014). 

The ordering principle means that the world does not have any central control power that is superior to all the nations and that can set all the principles of the world order. Secondly, it is also assumed that all nations practice some offensive military capabilities. Another assumption is that nations are never certain regarding the other state's intentions. Every nation wants to know that either the other nation will comatose force for the change in "the balance of power" or it is the other way that they will not use any force or power.

A fourth assumption is that the state's larger objective is survival. countries want always to try to be independent of their internal political structure and the maintenance of their integrity and sovereignty. They may pursue other objectives such as prosperity and human rights goals such as prosperity and protection of human rights, but these objectives metal ways take a backseat to their survival. When a country is unable to survive, it is not possible for it to achieve the other objectives. Another assumption means that managers have a dominating role to chalk out plans.  They don't make mistakes wittingly but because of the multifaceted world and misquoted information state trapped in it. It is always the plan to enjoy maximum power and get more opportunities.




Iraq War, Al Qaeda-After Applying the Realist Theory

In respect of applying the realist theory to the Iraq war, Al-Qaeda and USA. After 9/11, President Bush started the war against terror. In fact, it was a new war type having the aim of defeating terrorism and scarring the world for good. President Bush was of the view that they were the victim of massive loss so they would prefer an alternate strategy. The great achievement achieved with the advancement of freedom over time, and the greatest hope now rests upon them. It was further declared that their nation and this generation will continue to present false stories beyond the threat of violence. In the Bush administration, there was an approach of force and policy. Bush, in the context of chemical and biological nuclear weapons, gives impression that the freedom is actually at the junctions of technology and radicalism (Hess, 2005).

When such things happen, small groups and weak states can sometimes, become destructive forces to attack big countries. The enemies are caught in the pursuit of these terrible weapons and have shown their intentions. If national security was recognized as a threat to the restoration of the equality of the state in 2002, the right to root out terrorist organizations in a world where America has the importance of a major actor. Even, before the attack of the 11 episode, the then-US administration harbored a dominating role. The example of refusing to be part of the Kyoto Protocol and the International Criminal Court and preferring a missile defense program is the testimony of the fact  (Jeffrey, 2008).

The occupation and invasion of Iraq by the Bush administration led to long-standing challenges to realist ideals. The attack came at a time when he was leading the post-Cold War unipolar world of China, Russia, Japan, and Europe. Although there is a line downfall as compared to the EU and Japan, America is still at the top of the countries in the categories of cultural, military, and economic power. 

In pursuit of soft power, America's center of international investment, acceptance of its current, diplomatic standards made the country's importance comparatively above all. At that time, before the attack, It was not challenged in Saddam’s era as well. Iraq was not a major power that posed a serious challenge to the UN security nation's interest by any measure of force was weakened and was effectively preventing any adventure (Mohammed, 2018).

The status quo is supported by the defensive realist, who argues that a defensive military posture is a power threat to rivals extended by power advantages to the victors. It is clearly defined by classical realism that human aggression and anarchic conditions can lead to destructive warfare between countries. It can be agreed that the US invasion and occupation of Iraq cannot be explained by the realists. The Bush administration's decision to annex Iraq clearly contradicts the defense realist's position that policies that promote the status quo help strengthen national security and promote peace. Opportunistic aggression to achieve large gains, as argued by the aggressive realist, does not apply to Iraq in any major way. The rationale for the invasion of Iraq was largely motivated by American motivations to gain direct control over the vast oil reserves of Iraq and West Asia, which appears to undermine rather than closely endorse an aggressive realist position. The US already controlled the vast resources of Saudi Arabia and other kingdoms in the Gulf region (Simon, 2005). It is true that the US was very concerned about the oil deals signed with Russia and French oil companies for Saddam Hussein's regime. However, these deals were not a serious threat to the interests and security of US oil. The US did not face any fuel shortages or the long-term risk to its oil interests that such shortages might occur in the future.

Aggressive human nature plays a minimal role in the attack, at least as seen by the victim of the attack. Iraq's leadership did not show irresponsibility after the sections of the United Nations but proved that it was nationalist and could be stopped by any means other than invasion. The invasion of Iraq was carried out on the basis of baseless 

Ostensibly on the basis of threat, which indicates the application of realism 

in this case. The growing reluctance to apply realism to the attack on the country also confirms that epistemological realism falls short of a satisfactory explanation of this historical episode.

Critical Analysis of Realist Theory and Invasion an Iraq and AI Qaeda

Both Morgenthau and Waltz talk about overplay whether it is due to human nature or to the system. The basic thing analyzed in the whole theory is that they give importance to the national interest and believe in the sum goal they give importance to relative power and always compare one state to another in the sense of power and want to defeat the other state. They said war and the system are responsible for disturbance in the society like Hitter who just believed in power and to gain power he did everything. He was a very cruel person. He belongs to Germany and just prefers Germans. He could not bear foreign nationalists living in Germany and said that wherever the Germans that should be the German territory and he believed in gaining things with power. He created too much disturbance in his era and created disturbance in his often so we can say that human nature is bad and causes disturbance in the system (Melvyn, 2024). If we look at the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Does the U.S. say that American policy is realistic but why is that American policy realistic? Her invasion of Iraq is also realistic. The U.S. just wanted to increase its own power and to see its national interest like set oil and other resources from Iraq. The U.S. was first after it but after 9/11it changed its interest and took steps in the war on terror and knew the U.S. in against Al Qaeda and against Muslims but for its own interest it gave aid to Pakistan and demanded that Pakistan should help America in war terrorism. If we look at the scenario we will come to know that American policy is based on realism. With power, America involves Iraq and Afghanistan to gain power. But if we look at the present situation we will come to learn that the American Position is not good in both countries. America and also lose its image in the world scenario (Fareed, 2008).

Conclusion

This war against Iraq, which remained in the period from 2003 to 2011, was started by America with the support of allied partners. The war's stated objective was to eliminate weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) that the U.S. and its coalition partners believed Iraq possessed. However, no such weapons were ultimately found, and the rationale for going to war faced intense criticism.

 The events leading to the Iraq War were influenced by several factors, including the 9/11 attack on the United States. The 9/11 attacks prompted significant shifts in U.S. foreign policy, leading to a more assertive and interventionist approach, particularly concerning countries perceived to be a threat to U.S. national security The Bush administration, blamed the Iraq had ties to terrorist organizations, including al-Qaeda, the group responsible for the 9/11 attacks. 

However, in the aftermath of the war. it became clear that the evidence for WMDs in Iraq was faulty, and there was little to no direct link between Iraq and the 9/11 attacks. Critics accused the US government of cherry-picking intelligence and exaggerating the threat to justify the invasion. The Iraq War also brought to light the challenges and complexities of implementing a foreign policy based on the concept of realism. Realism in international relations theory emphasizes the pursuit of national interests and security, often through military power and alliances. Proponents of the Iraq War argued that the removal of Saddam Hussein's regime would stabilize the region and promote democracy, thereby advancing U.S. interests in the Middle East. However, critics of the war, including realist scholars, argued that the invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq would lead to unintended consequences, such as increased instability. Sectarian violence and a prolonged insurgency. These critics believed that the U.S. intervention was based on unrealistic assumptions about the ease of post-war reconstruction and the receptiveness of the Iraqi population to foreign occupation. The Iraq War indeed proved to be much more challenging than anticipated, with a prolonged and costly occupation. The lack of effective planning for the post-war period contributed to the emergence of sectarian violence. The war's aftermath highlighted the limitations of realism as a guiding principle in foreign policy, as it failed to account adequately for the complexities of nation-building, cultural dynamics, and the potential backlash from local populations. The Iraq War has since been widely debated and remains a subject of significant analysis and reflection in understanding U.S. foreign policy decisions and their consequences.

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