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Comparing Realism and Idealism
| Issue | Realism | Idealism |
| Focus of Foreign Policy | Short Term
National Interest Maximize Power |
Long Term
National Security International Community |
| Causes of War | Anarchy,
Security Dilemma, Human Nature |
Anarchy,
Security Dilemma |
| How to achieve peace | Deterrence and
Balance of Power |
Reduce sovereignty
Increase Law, Interdependence; Collective Security Promote Democracy |
| States should ally with... | Any state that makes them become more powerful or helps stabilize the balance of power | Democratic, ethical states which uphold law and human rights |
| States should use force | As needed
unilateral ok |
as last resort
multilaterally |
| States should trade... | only to help increase state power | as much as possible to promote interdependence and mutual gains among states |
| Ethics | State power first | Ethics first, then power |
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