Liberal/ Liberal Internationalism

NameProfessorCourseDateAustralian Foreign PolicyTopic 1-RealismAccording to the realist view, nations are the major actors in the system. Leaders, on the other hand, are always rational and often select policies that will greatly benefit them while significantly reduce costs to be incurred. Additionally, war is seen as inevitable which means that if going to war will suit the country, then realists will be in full support of it. Going by this notion, then common good appears to be of minimal interest in this category but rather selfish acts prevail. States that use this theory are very proactive and as such do not base their comfortable existence on other states’ good deeds.However, the realist view can only work for nations that are very powerful. Nations that are not so dominant need to form alliances with those that are so that common interests can be met. Australia, for example, does not possess the military or economic prowess to defend itself against powerful rivals in the Asian Pacific region such as China. Instead, it forms alliances and treaties with these countries as a means of self-preservation.In the past, realism has been heavily practiced in Australia. When John Howard was the Prime Minister, he put