Activity 1 - What is realism?

Activity Tasks
  1. Watch - Watch the video clip here from the Hunger Games. How could each contestant ensure their survival? What prevented contestants working together? Could they survive without weapons?
  2. Discuss - In what ways could this scene be regarded as an analogy for global politics?
  3. Definitions - Now read Slides 2-3 of the Google Slide. Make notes on what the theory of classical realism is.
  4. Debate - Do you agree or disagree with the theory?

Activity 2 - How did realism develop?

Activity Tasks
  1. Paired Research - One person should use Slides 4-5 to make notes on how classical realism developed. The other should use Slides 5-6 to make notes on how structural realism developed. Then share your notes.
  2. Connect - Are these new ideas connected to what you already know?
  3. Extend - What new ideas did you get that pushed your thinking or extended it in new directions?
  4. Challenge - What is still challenging or puzzling your about realism? What questions do you have?

Activity 3 - What is structural realism?

Activity Tasks
  1. Group Research - Get into five groups. Using Slides 7-12, each group should research a different assumption of structural realism. Make notes in your books.
  2. Discuss - For each assumption, discuss in your groups whether you agree or disagree with the theory. Can you think of any examples for global politics to illustrate your thinking?
  3. Watch - Watch this video on Structural Realism. Once finished: think of 3 thoughts/ideas, 2 questions, and 1 analogy you might have about what he discussed.

Activity 4 - How much power is enough?

Activity Tasks
  1. Definitions - Examine and copy down the definitions of offensive and defensive structural realism on Slide 13.
  2. Review - Examine and evaluate the arguments for and against defensive structural realism on Slides 14-17.
  3. Debate - As a class, debate whether offensive or defensive structural realism is the more accurate theory to describe global politics.
  4. Biographies - Using the internet, quickly research the lives and publications of John Mearsheimer and Kenneth Waltz. How did they contribute to realism?

Activity 5 - Can China rise peacefully?

Activity Tasks
  1. Research - Get into pairs. One person will consider the case study from the Offensive Structural Realist perspective and the other from a Defensive Structural Realist perspective. You have 20 minutes to read through the article before creating a list of what you feel are the most important points on this worksheet.
  2. ​Evaluate - After 20 mins, return to your pair. Agree upon a joint answer to the question: “Which perspective provides the most convincing answer to the question, can China rise peacefully?”​

Further Reading

OBLIGATORY READING
  1. “Chapter 3: Theories of Global Politics” in Global Politics, by Andrew Heywood, pp. 53-61
RECOMMENDED READING
SUPPLEMENTARY READING
  1. Mearsheimer, J.L. (2001). The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, pp. 1-22