interdependence realism relating to arms control. The realist scholar John Mearsheimer states that "One might think..." events including the Bush Doctrine are "evidence of untethered realism that unipolarity made possible," but disagrees and contends that various interventions are caused by a belief that a liberal international order can transcend power politics. Inconsistent with non-European politics Scholars have argued that realist theories, in particular realist conceptions of anarchy and balances of power, have not characterized the international systems of East Asia and Africa (before, during and after colonization). State-centrism Scholars have criticized realist theories of international relations for assuming that states are fixed and unitary units. Appeasement In the mid-20th century, realism was seen as discredited in the United Kingdom due to its association with appeasement in the 1930s. It re-emerged slowly during the Cold War. Scholar Aaron McKeil pointed to major illiberal tendencies within realism that, aiming for a sense of "restraint" against liberal interventionism, would lead to more proxy wars, and fail to offer institutions and norms for mitigating great power conflict. Realism as degenerative research programs John A. Vasquez applied Imre Lakatos's criteria, and concluded that realist-based research program is seen as degenerating due to the protean character of its theoretical development, an unwillingness to specify what makes the true theory, a continuous adoption of auxiliary propostions to explain away flaws, and lack of strong research findings. Against Vasquez, Stephen Walt argued that Vasquez overlooked the progressive power of realist theory. Kenneth Waltz claimed that Vasquez misunderstood Lakatos. See also Complex interdependence Consensus reality Consequentialism International legal theory Game theory Global justice Legalism (Chinese philosophy) Might makes right Negarchy Peace through strength Realpolitik Moral nihilism References Further reading Ashley, Richard K. "Political Realism and the Human Interests", International Studies Quarterly (1981) 25: 204–36. Barkin, J. Samuel Realist Constructivism: Rethinking International Relations Theory (Cambridge University Press; 2010) 202 pages. Examines areas of both tension and overlap between the two approaches to IR theory. Bell, Duncan, ed. Political Thought and International Relations: Variations on a Realist Theme. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008. Booth, Ken. 1991. "Security in anarchy: Utopian realism in theory and practice", International Affairs 67(3), pp. 527–545 Crawford; Robert M. A. Idealism and Realism in International Relations: Beyond the Discipline (2000) online edition Donnelly; Jack. Realism and International Relations (2000) online edition Gilpin, Robert G. "The richness of the tradition of political realism", International Organization (1984), 38:287–304 Griffiths;