Realismo y Relaciones Internacionales: una observación desde la historia de la ciencia y la epistemología

Abstract

This article aims an analysis on the Realist theory arguments in International Relations. Realism presents several concepts to understand the international system based on the centralism of the Nation-State, an anarchical international environment, and the balance of, power. In this paper, I propose to read the trajectory of these concepts and ask if they are relevant to understand international politics. This work finds that Realism took concepts of the natural sciences from the 16th century. This kind of readings are mechanical visions of the universe and was transferred to human essence and nature, and to the political behavior among nations. Given the prolific production of this school of thought, we have selected to make a descriptive and explanatory reading to 1) Hans Morgenthau, who considers himself the founder of Academic Realism, 2) Kenneth Waltz, who proposed a Neorealist reading from a structural perspective, and finally 3) Henry Kissinger, who is considered a realist as a policymaker. Firstly, I analyze the context in which the concepts that nurtured Realism. Then, I track the origin of these concepts that come from the philosophy of nature that shaped modern scientific thought. Finally, I describe the implications of thinking the international arena with categories and metaphors from other sciences.