International Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 4

International Relations - Essay Example The Great Debate of Realism vs. Idealism: The North Korea Nuclear Problem Since the introduction of International Relations Theory during the World War I era, two conflicting arguments have helped to shape and guide the United States' foreign policy. Realists advocated seeing the world as it is; a conglomeration of self-interested states where military might and economic strength produce positive results. In contrast to the realists, the school of idealism advocated a foreign policy based on what the world could become; a cooperative system of member states and an international code based on freedom and order. US foreign policy in the last 100 years has ebbed and waned in and out of realism as a second World War, a Cold War, and a post-Cold War period challenged the State Department for a coherent policy theory. Nuclear capability in the hands of rouge nations has made it even more difficult to define the two theories. The North Korea nuclear problem is a product of the US's dual nature of realism and idealism. Since the Clinton administration, the US government has taken a hard line against the North Korean nuclear capability. The US was not working to persuade North Korea to become democratic or hold free elections. In addition, there have been few credible attempts to bring North Korea out of isolation, with the exception of South Korea's unification policies.