Realism

The term realism is used in various ways in many different disciplines. In philosophy, it is the [Page 1441]opposite of idealism and nominalism; whereas in literature and cinema, it is counterposed to escapism and romanticism. In political analyses, realism is wedded to power and can be best understood as a philosophical disposition about society in general and about political matters in particular. Thus, realism has been the theoretical foundation of analyses of both domestic as well as international politics. Realist analysis of society and politics usually makes a set of assumptions about the society and especially about human nature. With a focus on power, the key concern for realist analyses is the competition for power.

Realism is inclined to a certain attitude regarding human nature, the ...