What is realism and how can it be non-local?

Abstract

The concept of realism in quantum mechanics means that results of measurement are caused by physical variables, hidden or observable. Local hidden variables were proved unable to explain results of measurements on entangled particles tested far away from one another. Then, some physicists embraced the idea of nonlocal hidden variables. The present article proves that this idea is problematic, that it runs into an impasse vis-\`a-vis the special relativity.