Realism and the War on Terror Essay -- essays research papers

Realist thought on global relations fit comfortably within the context of the great wars of the twentieth century. Powerful nations possessing massive military forces took physical object at one a nonher to affect the hierarchical structure of the international system for the good of their own security and power. These wars, however, differ greatly from nows un customary war on terrorist act. Therefore, the realist theories of yesterday, while still useful, bespeak at least some tweaking to fit the present situation. Probably the most(prenominal) obvious critique of realism with regard to the war on terrorism is that it is a theory that deals with international relations. The belligerents in the war on terrorism are not eer conventional nation-states. Therefore, any theory that seeks to rationalize international relations must be amended to fit the simulation of a situation in which nations are not the only players. This is not simply a matter of diction either. Non-state actors do not always act interchangeable states possessing a cohesive foreign policy and a desire for self-preservation and advancement. Furthermore, terrorist organizations are not tied to any specific res publica of land surrounded by well-defined borders that are protected with conventional military forces. This is not to say that terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda and al-Jihad are entirely devoid of the motivations on which traditional nation-sates act like the desire for power, wealth, and security beca...