Debate Between Realism And Idealism

On the one hand realism argues that international politics is a struggle for power and a quest for survival which results in a condition of permanent conflict between states without any possibility of evolution or progress.

Debate between realism and idealism. Realism debate i am strongly in the camp of it not being an either or choice but a matter of using both and applying them wisely to the situation at hand. Dealing with things as they should be. Both are opposed to each other. In this way we find that there are sharp differences between the realists and the idealists.

Whereas german theoreticians like otto von bismarck and carl von clausewitz were proponents of political realism. Idealism and realism represent two extreme views. However some have argued that defining the debate between realism and idealism in terms of a great debate is a misleading caricature and so described the great debate as a myth. 6 7 according to revisionist narrative 8 9 there was never a single great debate between idealism and realism.

In terms of understanding the choice better i think the definitions here work well. However both are indeed extreme views. The realists wrongly accept and advocate the complete primacy of power and incompatibility of interests in international relations.