a.
Statism is the
centerpiece of realism. The state
is the highest actor and all actors in international affairs are of lesser importance. The state’s
sovereignty signifies the
existence of an independent political community which has juridical authority over its population.
b.
History teaches that
man by nature is selfish and no amount of improvement can make man free
from this deficiency.
c.
Man has quest for power
and a great quest to dominate others.
This lead to what Thomas Hobbes
calls a
struggle for power “ a war of all against all”.
d.
No other state can be relied upon to guarantee
your survival, and in international politic, the structure of the system does not permit friendship, trust and honour. Allies might increase a state’s ability to defend itself
but their loyalty and reliability
may not be assured.13