R EALISM AND I DEALISM

Norman A. Graebner

Philosophically, realism and idealism comprise opposing approaches to the definition and pursuit of national objectives abroad. Realists tend to accept conditions as they are and to define the ends and means of policy by the measures of anticipated gains, costs, necessities, and chances of success. Idealists tend to define goals in ideal, often visionary, forms, and presume that the means for their achievement lie less in measured policies, relying on diplomacy or force, than in the attractiveness of the goals themselves.

See also D OCTRINES ; E XCEPTIONALISM ; I NTERNATIONALISM ; T HE N ATIONAL I NTEREST ; O PEN D OOR P OLICY ; P OWER P OLITICS ; S ELF -D ETERMINATION ; W ILSONIANISM .