Realism and its Relevance in the Contemporary World

Realism is the oldest political ideology in International Relations and it is still alive and well in the contemporary world. States still seek their own interest and are always reluctant to give up their sovereignty. The scope of this book is that of examining Realism in depth and to see how this theory applies to the world we live in today. Even though I will obviously express my own thoughts, opinions and reflections, this is not the main aim of this book. What I am trying to explain is how, and to what extent, states in the twentieth century still think in Realist terms. It is meant to show how the world actually works, how states act and react to one another and to have a look at who the important actors are in the contemporary world.