Realism

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The theory that global politics is a struggle for power and survival between self-interested states in an anarchic, self-help world.

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That states are the main actors and act in their own national interest, seeking power to survive.

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There is no world government above states — no ruler to enforce rules or protect anyone. It does not mean chaos.

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One where each state must ultimately rely on itself for its own security, because no one else guarantees it.

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When one state arms for defence, others feel less safe and arm too, so everyone ends up more armed and less secure.

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The Cold War nuclear arms race shows the security dilemma: two superpowers built huge arsenals for defence, making each other less secure.

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Military and economic power — the hard power that lets a state defend itself and get its way.

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It explains war, arms races and power politics well, and is realistic about states' self-interest.

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It is too pessimistic — it underrates cooperation, IGOs, law, ideas and non-state actors, and can be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

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Liberalism — where realists see a dangerous self-help world, liberals see room for cooperation.

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If states expect the worst and arm accordingly, they can create the very conflict and distrust they feared.