Who Are the Real “Realists”?

Since at least 2016, foreign policy debates have been increasingly marked by entreaties for America to adopt a more “realist” posture in international affairs, which is generally taken to mean a more restrained approach. At the same time, the US foreign policy establishment continues to be more-or-less united around the idea of a US-led world order, with some disagreement over what that order exists to accomplish. What’s curious is that many in the latter camp also identify as “realists.” But how can both the critics and defenders of American involvement abroad consider themselves realists?