The tradition of political realism is rooted in the deep ages, its cognitive principles were in demand in various fields of political science, within its framework one of the most authoritative theories of the state in political science was developed. In the world, there are constantly crisis moments in the relations of states, which at a certain moment reach a phase of exacerbation. To resolve them, it is necessary to separate the objective and the desired and analyze events within the specific framework of place and time through the Realist school of thought.
Hans Morgenthau is considered the founder and most prominent representative of the school of political realism in the United States. From his point of view, international politics, like any other, is a struggle for power (Popovic, 2020). From the standpoint of political realism, international relations are, first of all, interstate relations, where the only real actors are sovereign states (Cozzaglio & Greene, 2019). Wars and conflicts are thus seen as an inevitable consequence of the very nature of international relations, and the hope of achieving universal peace based on legal and moral norms is an illusion.
In conclusion, despite the cardinal changes in the system of international relations, the old stereotypes persist in the thinking of political leaders and the military. With such a view of the world and events, a person has the ability to make independent and informed decisions. Political realism allows one to take a healthy look at the development of the situation, the potential threat from the use of special types of weapons, and the consequences of decisions. Therefore, the Realist school of thought is optimal in terms of the political situations and views.
References
Cozzaglio, I., & Greene, A. R. (2019). Can power be self‐legitimating? Political realism in Hobbes, Weber, and Williams. European Journal of Philosophy, 27(4), 1016-1036.
Popovic, P. (2020). Hans Morgenthau and the lasting implications of World War I. Journal of Military Ethics, 19(2), 121-134.