International Relations theory made easy (4): Realism

Introductory lecture to the discipline of International Relations by Dr Patrick Theiner, Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Edinburgh, UK. Recorded in late 2020.


== Timestamps ==
00:00 - Intro
01:02 - Theory as pattern recognition
04:15 - The Peloponnesian War
08:42 - Early realist thinkers
09:50 - Niccolo Machiavelli
14:27 - Origins of realism
17:17 - Kenneth Waltz' Neorealism
20:34 - Other realist theorists
21:56 - Core assumptions of neorealism
27:13 - Relationships between core concepts
28:57 - The security dilemma
34:17 - Balance of power
36:30 - How much power is enough?
38:42 - Unipolarity vs. bipolarity vs. multipolarity
44:49 - Realism and cooperation
49:17 - Realism and international institutions
50:43 - Is this a good theory?