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Running head: DISCUSSION

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Discussions

Name
Course
University

DISCUSSION

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Part 1
Anarchy is a concept which denotes a state of lawlessness as a result of a lack of a
governing authority. It can also refer to a people who do not have a governing body as a result of
their deliberate action to reject hierarchies that have been set in society (Franks, Jun, and
Williams, 2018). In international relations, the concept of anarchy refers to a state where nationstates are the most superior authorities. Therefore there is no institution of power can serve as
arbitrator between them and enforce international laws (Eckstein, n.d). Realists believe in the
prevalence of anarchy in which international relations. In this arena, there are no laws which can
be enforced primarily for stronger sates resulting in chaos and the fight for security and survival
for independent states
A community is a concept that denotes a group of people who share common
characteristics, attitudes, interests, or geographical area. Lebow asserts that society is an essential
concept in promoting stability in domestic as well as international levels (Dunne, Kurki, and
Smith 61). Lebow further indicates that in the event where states, factions of individuals strive
to attain unilateral and unrestrained advantages, these fragile bonds are undermined impacting
the stability. The result is chaos as time tested methods of conflict management such as power
balance and alliances fail
A theory is a concept that refers to generalized thinking that is contemplative and
rational. An approach is achieved through research or observational study, which is then coupled
with meditative reflection. Waltz defines a theory as a mentally formed picture of a particular
image or activity. He asserts that while the term theory is used to refer to concepts that go
beyond mere definitions, there is a criterion that they must fulfill (Keohane, 1977). In order to

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attain a theory, theoretical ideas must be linked to several variables, hypotheses inferred then
tested,
Security is a concept that refers to a state where one is free from danger, anxiety, fear,
doubt, and so forth. Security seeks to alleviate threats that come against individuals or the values
that they cherish (Afolabi and Ajayi, 2015). Protection is associated with safety, and it seeks to
preserve particular objects of reference, with the results being the wellbeing of people. Security
is a multifaceted concept that keeps on growing and is understood based on the context.

Part 2
1. Drawing particularly on Gilpin and Lebow, assess the various ways that morality is
addressed in realist thought. Be specific and demonstrate an understanding of the range of
moral logics that these authors present.
The issue of morality has been on interest to realist scholars as they seek to shed light on
the matter and determine its impact. Lebow looks at international relations through the eyes of
classical realism and shows that power plays a central role in any form of politics (Dunne, Kurki,
and Smith 59). He, however, shows that this power can also be made to be self- defeating. In
relation to morality, Lebow stresses the importance of having sensitivity to ethical dilemmas and
the focus of persuasion and shared interests. Morality is also addressed from the perspective of
leadership, where there is a need to adhere to norms for their benefits as well as of those they
lead.
Lebow also addresses how morality is violated and the impact, specifically in the case of
American intervention. He asserts that such in the region of Indochina has the effect of
diminishing America's influence since it is a violation of the age's morality. Finally, he shows
how having acceptable ethical standards help to provide legitimacy to powerful states (Dunne,

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Kurki, and Smith 65). Gilpin, on the other hand, views morality from a perspective of moral
pessimism. He does not seek to hold that conflict results from the international system, but rather
it’s the product of human nature (Keohane 304)
2. Using the concepts of competition and socialization to anchor your analysis, explain what
Waltz means when he writes that a structure “may designate a compensating device that
works to produce a uniformity of outcomes despite the variety of inputs.”
In his theory on Neorealism, Waltz asserts that although the international system may
seem invisible, it has a significant influence on states. Through their interactions, states give
rise to a structure that serves the role of encouraging and constraining specific actions (Keohane
71). Therefore when the scholar refers to the structure as a compensating device that yields
uniformity irrespective of inputs, he is referring to the impact of the international system with
consideration to the individual states.
The international system adopts a system of anarchy in the socialization of the states
where there is no higher power to arbitrate. As such, all the state actors are brought on the same
level despite the difference they have in terms of military capabilities. Because there is no
competition or aggressiveness to amass power, each state has a similar function.

3. Compare how Waltz and Lakatos describe theory testing, DEFINING, and explaining
each of Lakatos's core terms in your own words.
Keohane (1977) captures the works of Lakatos and Waltz, where they extensively
discourse on theory in scientific research. Lakatos defends Popperian philosophy while Waltz
seeks to deploy the actions of both scholars.

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Waltz asserts that in order to test a theory, several steps need to be followed. These
include stating the approach to be tested, inferring hypotheses from the theory, and then
proceeding to test them through experiments or obse...