Introduction to International Relations: Realism - Theories and Approaches 

This video brought back memories of my lectures at the University of Geneva Switzerland, International politics with prof Jean Francçois, it was fun with books. Time flies.

Glad you enjoyed it

Nicolo Mach' and Thucydides are classical Realists, Morgenthau and Carr IMPLEMENTED the ideas of Classical Realist to create Realism Theory. Neorealism (structural realism) was a theory invented by Waltz and Mearsheimer. ie Defensive and Offensive.

Thanks for the comment. I certainly can't disagree with your position on Thucydides being more of a "forefather" than a member of Classical Realism. Certainly Classical Realists draw from his writings, but the school of thought existed long after his time, so his position as a Classicist is certainly post hoc. My placing of Morgenthau et al within the group of Neo-Classical Realists has more to do with their writings and thoughts being published after the era of Wilsonian Realism. In this instance, neo-Classical Realism adds a sense of cynical reaction to the "utopian" beliefs of Wilson's visions of the future. I also can't disagree with your identity of Rose within the Neorealist camp as well, but time and the need to be clear to a group of 100-level undergraduates necessitated a more straightforward introduction to the study.

@@MichaelRossiPoliSci Hey Dr Rossi - I missed your courteous and considered reply until perusing my old comments feed. Call this a slightly belated response. Lol! I should point out I was in the throes of writing my apologia to neoclassical realism at the time :) aka my Phd thesis. I was refuting the notion realism had been repudiated by liberalism - aka the Global 'rules-based' order of which so many have been enamoured. I was also a little cross at some of the critiques of realism - reducing it all to chauvinistic machtpolitik and all of that. Plus Fukuyama has long seemed delusional to me and the past year has borne out a pet theory of mine - prepare yourselves for the revenge of realism! Indeed, I am now writing a paper with this very heading. Of course I appreciate, an intro undergrad lecture does not have time for arcane arguments over typology, so I sympathise completely with a condensed version. To be fair, I am a little defensive of realism (does that make me a Defensive Realist?) because I think many of the criticisms levelled against it have been straw man depictions. Any rate, on rewatching I found many of your arguments succinct and apropos so please do not imagine me one of those snide detractors of which academia is replete ;) Just defensive of my realism :)

Which is why I'm pretty comfortable saying it, but more specifically, I qualify that statement with saying it is extremely unlikely there will be a "world government" in our collective lifetime unless there is a some cataclysmic event that brings one to necessity.

Because America would stomp France and Norway's army, they can't afford to do that

I actually was told many years ago the British use of the word "clever" meant "smart" but also "calculating" and slightly "ambitious", by someone from UK. So yes, "clever" is rooted in intelligence and being smart,, but carries more varied meaning than the American version.

Michael Rossi Poli Sci No, it really doesn't. "Clever" in England means intelligent, smart, astute, knowledgeable etc., exactly as it does in America. I actually showed my mate this thread earlier and he was laughing at the strangeness of it, as he (like me) genuinely didn't understand where you got this bizarre idea from! In fact the only use of that word that has any negative connotations in England is when it is used by chavs (whose use of the English language I would not take as authoritative lol!), and they sometimes use phrases like "fuck off, clever cunt", which basically means in street lingo, "fuck off you idiot before I knock you out". But "calculating", "ambitious" etc.? Nope, we just don't use the word that way, but feel free to believe whatever nonsense you want to. P.S. I'm an English guy who has lived all over Britain (and Ireland briefly), and I can categorically tell you that what you are saying isn't true. It may be handy to stick to your area of expertise rather than trying to argue with people about their own dialect when your entire knowledge of it stems from a single anecdote. Very unwise, especially for an academic...

What?! We definitely use the world "clever" to mean calculating/cunning/crafty! He described it just right

Strange..... if you understood what he wants to say, why would you make a fuss about it? Just to boast that you are more knowledgeable and he is not? Start your own channel then. We shall follow you

Oi ! you lot are really rude! I get what PROFESSOR has said! Do you think when Putin calls Trump 'clever' do you believe he is complimenting him on his intellect? Or do you think that he has made a backhanded compliment loaded with cynicism? So, therefore when we call an American 'clever' is it an expression of shock and disbelief by Australians.