Midterm paper for internarional relations, my topic is russian Ukraine war but in realism theory. Firstly explain the theory and then apply it to the case(the war).
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Title: Russian-Ukraine War: A Realist Perspective
Introduction
The Russian-Ukraine war has been one of the most significant conflicts in recent history, with far-reaching implications for international relations. To understand this conflict, it is crucial to analyze it through the lens of realism, a dominant theoretical framework in international relations. Realism emphasizes power, self-interest, and the pursuit of national security as the driving forces behind state behavior. This essay will provide an overview of realism theory and then apply its key concepts to the Russian-Ukraine war, shedding light on the motivations and actions of the involved parties.
Realism Theory: An Overview
Realism is a theoretical framework that views the international system as anarchic, where states are the primary actors and power is the fundamental currency. This theory asserts that states are driven by self-interest and the pursuit of power, aiming to maximize their security and protect their national interests. Realists argue that the international system is characterized by constant competition and conflicts among states due to the absence of a global authority to enforce rules and maintain order.
Key Assumptions of Realism:
States are rational actors driven by self-interest.
States seek to acquire and maintain power and security.
The international system is anarchic and lacks a central authority.
Security dilemmas and the fear of relative gains motivate state behavior.
Military power is a crucial determinant of state power and influence.
Application of Realism to the Russian-Ukraine War
Power Struggle: According to realism, states engage in power struggles to secure their national interests. In the case of the Russian-Ukraine war, Russia’s annexation of Crimea can be seen as an attempt to regain lost power and maintain influence over Ukraine. Realists argue that Russia perceived the growing Western influence in Ukraine as a threat to its own security and sought to prevent Ukraine from aligning with NATO.
Self-Interest: Realism posits that states prioritize their own interests above all else. In this conflict, both Russia and Ukraine acted in accordance with their perceived national interests. Ukraine sought closer ties with the European Union (EU) for economic and political benefits, while Russia aimed to prevent Ukraine’s integration with the West, fearing encroachment on its sphere of influence.
Security Dilemma: Realism highlights the security dilemma, where actions taken by one state to enhance its security can be perceived as threatening by others. The Ukrainian revolution in 2014, which led to a pro-Western government coming into power, was seen by Russia as a potential threat to its security. In response, Russia intervened militarily in Crimea and supported separatist movements in eastern Ukraine, thus exacerbating tensions.
Relative Gains: Realists argue that states are concerned about relative gains rather than absolute gains. In this conflict, Russia was concerned about losing relative power vis-à-vis the West. The possibility of Ukraine aligning with NATO threatened Russia’s regional influence, prompting its intervention to maintain its relative power.
Military Power: Realism emphasizes the significance of military power in determining a state’s influence and security. Russia’s superior military capabilities allowed it to swiftly annex Crimea and support separatist movements in eastern Ukraine. Realists argue that military strength is essential for states to protect their interests and deter potential adversaries.
Conclusion
Analyzing the Russian-Ukraine war from a realist perspective provides valuable insights into the motivations and actions of the involved parties. Realism’s focus on power, self-interest, and security helps explain Russia’s actions in annexing Crimea and supporting separatist movements in eastern Ukraine. By understanding this conflict through a realist lens, we gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics at play in international relations and the complex nature of state behavior.
