Carnegie Council Podcasts Keeping it Real(ism), with Assoc. Professor Paul Poast
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Feb 20, 2026 
Paul Poast, associate professor of political science at the University of Chicago, unpacks the history and practice of realism in international relations. He traces realism's roots, critiques modern rhetoric that confuses realism with militarism, and argues for pragmatic restraint and selective intervention. He also uses historical cases to show how dramatic tactics can backfire.
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Realism As The 'School Of No Hope'
- Realism is the "school of no hope" that rejects utopian fixes like law, commerce, or democracy as final solutions to war.
- It treats international politics as driven by enduring power struggles and the will to control, not moral progress.
WWI Shaped Modern Realism
- Modern realist thought coalesced after World War I, reacting to failed multilateral efforts like the Hague Conventions.
- Realists saw those legal frameworks collapse in 1914 and concluded institutions can't eliminate the incentives for war.
Realism Can Include Ethics
- Realism isn't inherently amoral; many realists engage ethics and hold diverse values while accepting structural limits.
- Morgenthau and other realists discussed morality, showing realism can coexist with ethical commitments.
