Why do realists believe that global politics is characterised by conflict?

Why do realists believe that global politics is characterised by conflict?

1. The Nature of States

   • States are the key global actors and, being sovereign, act autonomously.  
   • Power
     • The primary motive of a state is the pursuit of power and self-interest. 
     • Human Nature
       • Selfish  Greedy  Power seeking
     • Power Politics
       • Power defined by military capacity. Ability to enforce will elsewhere.  Resist aggression by other states.
   • Applicable to all states
     • Despite constitutional character (e.g. UK and USA include aid grants and so on in their foreign policy, but this is very Machiavellian)

2. The International System

   • anarchical - no power above the sovereign state. 
   • Forces Self-Help
     • No other body can ensure security, so forced to ensure their own
     • Suspicion
       • Fear and insecurity = irresistible tendency towards competition and conflict  
   • Security Dilemma
     • Military build up by one state is inferred to be offensive (aggressive), leading to an arms race, growing hostility and the likelihood of war