Abstract
This paper explores contemporary debates about the meaning and value of realism in
political theory. I seek to move beyond the widespread observation that realism encompasses
a diverse set of critiques and commitments, by urging that we recognize two key
strands in recent realist thought. Detachment realists claim that political theory is
excessively abstract and infeasible and thereby fails adequately to inform actual political
decision-making. Displacement critics, on the other hand, suggest that political theory
threatens or disrespects real politics. Not only are these visions of realism very different,
there are also important tensions between them. I focus, in particular, on clarifying
and evaluating the more complex charge that political theory displaces politics.