class discussion response

Alex's point that the theories we have been studying are not equipped to explain terrorism is a great one. It is particularly a problem for the realist theory because it does not take any actors besides the state into account. This is a serious problem, when you apply realism to today's world. I cannot think of one conflict in the world today that is between two sovereign states, yet there are more violent or turbulent regions than you can count. The conflict in the world can be explained by ethnic conflict and terrorist tactics. We have not yet studied a theory that takes these two issues into account. As we discussed in class, it is these two issues that make the nuclear threat particularly frightening.