Realism Convincingly Interprets Security Issues: Take Climate Change as an Example

Ying ZHU

Abstract


The development of international security theory can be divided into two stages: traditional security studies and non-traditional security studies. Traditional security studies are represented by realism. After the cold war, new research theories emerged that shifted the object of study from the state to the non-state. Critical security studies was one of them. Since the modern era, critical security studies has been seen as a critique of traditional security theories, especially realism. However, this paper argues that the realist focus on the balance of power and interests in international relations remains the more compelling explanation of security. Using climate change as a case study, this paper demonstrates the theoretical value of realism.

Keywords


International security studies; Realism; Critical security studies; Climate change; International relations

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3968/13145

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