Political realism is a way to understand how countries interact with each other. It focuses on competition and conflict between nations. This theory highlights how countries care more about their own interests, power, and safety rather than following rules or morals. It's especially important to look at today’s international conflicts, where countries often put their own needs first when facing challenges around the world.

Key Points of Political Realism:

1. Rivalry Among Major Powers:

   • A great example of political realism is the competition between the United States and China. This was evident in a 2021 report that showed China spent about $250 billion on its military. This shows that China wants to become a stronger power and challenge the U.S.
   • In response, the U.S. increased its military budget to $753 billion in 2022. They focused on building stronger alliances in the Indo-Pacific area to protect their interests.

2. Practical Politics in Alliances:

   • The conflict between Russia and Ukraine also shows how realism works in international alliances. NATO, an alliance of 30 countries, has boosted its military presence in Eastern Europe. This is all about working together for defense, which is a key idea in political realism.
   • After Russia’s actions, countries in Europe raised their defense spending a lot. NATO noted that, on average, member countries increased their budgets by 8.4% in 2022.

3. Economic Sanctions and Power:

   • Economic sanctions are another way that political realism plays out. Countries use their economic influence to change how other states behave. For example, sanctions against Russia caused its economy to shrink by 30% in 2022, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
   • The U.S. put more than 1,000 sanctions on Russia, showing how they use economic power in international affairs.

Overall, political realism is an important way to look at modern international issues. It helps us understand how power struggles and national interests shape how countries respond to global challenges.