Today in class we brainstormed six core characteristics of a “realist” approach to politics: independence/autonomy; the balance of power; anarchy/self-help; the national interest; "realpolitik"; and history as a source of wisdom. Broadly speaking these help to define what a self-identified political realist might value and emphasize in her analyses.
So the question arises: what might a self-identified realist make of the worldwide climate strikes last Friday, or of the speech given by the inspiration for if not the leader of this whole movement, Greta Thunberg, at the United Nations earlier today? How, if at all, do these events connect with what a political realist would consider the core elements of politics, particularly international politics?
I am deliberately asking you to stretch a bit with this question, since neither Machiavelli nor Kelanic have much to say directly about climate change or thousands of striking/protesting students. But a general theoretical perspective ought to have something to say about such events, whether that is a dismissal of their importance or an insight into their dynamics and potential impact. So, stretch out a bit in articulating an answer to this one.
No comments:
Post a Comment