Leviathan in the 21st Century

The Leviathan in the 21st Century

Looking back at Realism and Idealism

Neeraj Kaulgud

BALLB First Year

Section B

To begin this paper, let me introduce the reader to a concept, then I will refresh their memory on some current events.

The Leviathan. Commonly believed to be the name for a rampaging, unstoppable sea monster whose sole purpose is to wreak havoc on the world. Yet the Leviathan is actually a core principle to the idea of sovereignty proposed by a political theorist named Thomas Hobbes. Hobbes explained that when people are placed in a state of nature, they will eventually band together to protect their personal interests. This group gains a power of sovereignty within themselves and it is this power that evolves the group into a “body” which Hobbes calls as a Leviathan.

Now this idea of a Leviathan has been interpreted in two different ways by the Realists and the Idealists. Both of the groups of theorists have come to a consensus that in state of nature, it is highly probable that there will be a formation of multiple Leviathans. Yet they reach the metaphorical fork in the road at the question: “What happens next?” The Idealists believe that this situation actually places these Leviathans into another state of nature. Therefore, following the same principle, the Leviathans will group together to form a sort of “Super-Leviathan”. However, Realists argue that since these Leviathans are formed to represent the different interests of the people who form them, it is principally impossible for them to join together. Instead, these Leviathans will co-exist, which is made possible because they use their power of sovereignty to be sovereign to each other.

Now I will just take a moment to bring the reader up to date with recent events (regrettably this is necessary, I share the readers aversion to a history lesson). Recently, Egypt shocked the world by arresting a number of foreign nationals, 19 of them being civil society workers of the USA. The...