The Relevance of the Realist State in an Era of Globalization, (Paperback)

The title of this book is 'The Relevance of the Realist State in an Era of Globalization'. This book aims to investigate whether the state and power/security centric realist approach to the study of International Relations is relevant in the present age of globalization. There are radical discourses which assume that the forces of globalization have diminished the state element of 'governance' and that the nation-state's sovereignty has been eroded under the pressures of globalization. Realists on the other hand claim that the nation-state still retains its exclusive right to sovereignty and it is still the most important rational actor in world politics.Realists contend that globalization affect states differently, depending upon the relative power and position in the international system. Major powers are least affected by the international changes and we might expect them to be on command of globalization. There have been evidences that many states have bolstered their military spending and defense budgets, despite globalization.National wealth increased by economic globalization has, in fact, encouraged many states to increase military expenditures and to modernize their armed forces. Realism claims that transnational governance is possible, but at the same time, it is entirely dependent on the distribution of power. The dynamics of globalization have failed to diminish or eclipse the centrality of the nation-state and hence the paradigm of realism still continues to be realistic and relevant even in an era of globalization.