Abstract:

In the last few decades, e-learning otherwise known as online learning has allowed students to participate in courses offered at universities around the globe. With each new course offering the popularity of this education delivery method has grown. The opportunities afforded by e-learning to an academic institution as well as the prospective student is several, flexibility, wide access to source material, diversity of students socio-economic background that leads to open dialogue and enhanced learning experience for those enrolled. With this open dialogue the learning experience is broadened to include various ideological and cultural backgrounds.

Realism, as a tradition of international studies is centered upon four propositions, namely that states, as the most important actor, operate in a system that is anarchic, while each state remains rational, primarily concerned with their own survival. If it is accepted that realists believe humankind not inherently benevolent but rather self-centered and competitive and also accepting Samual P. Huntington’s claim that post-Cold War conflict would most frequently and violently occur because of cultural rather than ideological differences (Huntington 1993) though ideological differences often are part of cultural differences, how then should scholars within the discipline teach students online? The following paper posits that for scholars trained in Western International Relations theory, academic neutrality is unlikely, rather scholars should model their instruction to the subfield of neoclassical realism in conducting their courses taught online.

Keywords:

Realism, Neoclassical realism, e-learning, Clash of Civilizations.