The state centric assumption wherby states are the primary and only important actors in World politics. II) The rationality assumption wherby states are analysed as if they were rationall actors. III) The power assumption wherby states primarilly seek power, most often military power, both as a means and as an end in itself (Kohane, 1989, p40).
             Morgenthau bases his thory on the three core assumptions, but also introduces his "six principles of political realism" (Morgenthau 1948, p4-17) which best explain the classical realist perspective. According to Morgenthau and (Hobson, 2000, p47), the six principles are: I) Politics is rooted in a permanent and unchanging human nature which is basically self centred, self regarding and self interested. II) Politics is " an autonomous sphere of action" and cannot therefore be reduced to economics(as marxists do) or reduced to morals. Therefore state leaders should act in ways which benefit their populations, regardless of moral norms. III) Self interest is a basic fact of human condition: all people have an interest in their own security and survival. Thus international politics is an arena of conflicting state interests. These interests are not fixed but change over time. IV) Ethics of international relations are very different to those in the public sphere. A political leader!
             does not have the freedom to do the right thing as a private citizen does. This is because a political leader is responsible to the people of his/her country. Thus to follow a prescribed set of ethics would be irrispons
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