Analytical genealogy of neoclassical realism: from foreign policy to international politics

Document Type : Original Article

Author

• Amirroham Shojaie

Department of Political Science, University of Guilan

https://doi.org/10.22067/irlip.2024.86593.1493

Abstract

International relations theories can be divided into theories of foreign policy and international politics . Although there is a close relationship between the theories of foreign policy and international politics and these two are not separate, however, these two cannot be considered the same. Foreign policy theories seek to analyze, explain and predict the foreign behavior of governments and various factors influencing it, while international politics theories seek to explain what, how and the effects of interactions between governments in an environment called the international system. One of the most recent realist theories of foreign policy is the theory of neoclassical realism. This theory uses a combination of structural realism's macro view and classical realism's micro view.This theory uses a combination of the macro view of structural realism and the micro view of classical realism and considers foreign policy as a product of the interaction of structural and domestic factors. Emphasis on systemic limitations along with non-systemic selectors; The explanatory power of this theory has increased. Some thinkers (known as the third generation of neoclassical realism) have sought to rewrite and advance this theory as a theory of international politics.The question of this article is: neoclassical realism from the beginning of its emergence and expression as a theory complementary to structural realism, until recent years when it has been restructured as a new theory of international politics; What changes and transformations, in what dimensions, has it gone through?
The importance of this issue is especially due to the fact that this theory is less known in Iran, and it is known only as a foreign policy theory, while the scope of this theory is much wider. In this article, by describing the opinions of the main thinkers of neoclassical realism and with an explanatory-analytical method, this question will be answered: neoclassical realism from the beginning of its appearance as a complementary theory to structural realism, until recent years, when it has been restructured as a new theory of international politics; What changes and transformations has it gone through? The main hypothesis is that over time, neoclassical realism has moved towards eclectic, multi-level and interdisciplinary analysis and has moved away from the realist hard core. The research method is analytical-explanatory; with a theoretical approach.

Keywords

• Neoclassical realism
• New theory
• International politics
• Foreign policy
• International relations

References

 

References

Barkin, J. (2020). Constructivist and Neoclassical Realisms. In J. Barkin (Ed.), The Social Construction of State Power: Applying Realist Constructivism (pp. 47-72). Bristol, UK: Bristol University Press. https://doi.org/10.56687/9781529209846-004.

Baumgartner, Frank. (2013). Ideas and Policy Change. Governance. 26. 239-258. 10.1111/gove.12007.

Brooks, Stephen G. and Wohlforth, William C (2002)., “American Primacy in Perspective”, Foreign Affairs, 81(4)., 20-33.

Cerioli, L. (2024). Neoclassical Realism, Global International Relations, and the unheard echoes of Realist practices from the South. The British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/13691481241230858

Dunne, Tim & Hansen, Lene & Wight, Colin. (2013). The end of International Relations theory?. European Journal of International Relations. 19. 405-425. 10.1177/1354066113495485.

Firoozabadi, Jalal & Ashkezari, Mojtaba. (2016). Neo-classical Realism in International Relations. Asian Social Science. 12. 95. 10.5539/ass.v12n6p95.

Foulon, M. (2015). Neoclassical Realism: Challengers and Bridging Identities. International Studies Review, 17(4), 635–661. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24758570.

Götz, Elias. (2021). Neoclassical Realist Theories, Intervening Variables, and Paradigmatic Boundaries. Foreign Policy Analysis. 17. 10.1093/fpa/oraa026.

Gustav Meibauer, Linde Desmaele, Tudor Onea, Nicholas Kitchen, Michiel Foulon, Alexander Reichwein, Jennifer Sterling-Folker, Forum: Rethinking Neoclassical Realism at Theory's End, International Studies Review, Volume 23, Issue 1, March 2021, Pages 268–295, https://doi.org/10.1093/isr/viaa018.

Hagh Shenas, Mohammad Reza(2011), Neoclassical realism: from international politics to foreign policy. Foreign Policy Quarterly, 27(3), 659-678.

Hall, P. A. (1993). Policy Paradigms, Social Learning, and the State: The Case of Economic Policymaking in Britain. Comparative Politics, 25(3), 275–296. https://doi.org/10.2307/422246.

KITCHEN N. Systemic pressures and domestic ideas: a neoclassical realist model of grand strategy formation. Review of International Studies. 2010;36(1):117-143. doi:10.1017/S0260210509990532.

Kitchen, Nicholas. (2018). Type III NCR - A Restatement.

Meibauer, G. (2023). Neorealism, neoclassical realism and the problem(s) of history. International Relations, 37(2), 348-369. https://doi.org/10.1177/00471178211033943.

Morgenthau, H. (1956a) Politics Among Nations. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Ripsman, N.M. (2009). Neoclassical Realism, the State, and Foreign Policy: Neoclassical realism and domestic interest groups.

Ripsman, Norrin M., Jeffrey W. Taliaferro, and Steven E. Lobell, 'Neoclassical Realist Theory and the Limits of Structural Realism', Neoclassical Realist Theory of International Politics (New York, 2016; online edn, Oxford Academic, 19 May 2016), https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199899234.003.0002, accessed 20 Jan. 2024.

Salimi, Hossein and Ebrahimi, Menareh (2013). "Theoretical, meta-theoretical foundations and criticism of the theory of neoclassical realism", International Relations Research Quarterly, first period, number 17, pp. 42-13.

Schweller, R. (1996) ‘Neorealism’s Status-Quo Bias: What Security Dilemma?’. Security Studies, 5, pp. 90 – 121.

Schweller, Randall L. (2004). Unanswered Threats: A Neoclassical Realist Theory of Underbalancing, International Security, 29 (2), 159-201.

Sears, N.A. The neoclassical realist research program: Between progressive promise and degenerative dangers. Int Polit Rev 5, 21–31 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41312-017-0020-x.

Shimko, K. (1992) ‘Realism, Neorealism, and American Liberalism’. The Review of Politics, 54, pp. 281-301.

Shojaie, Amirroham & Simbar, Reza(2023), Analysis and criticism of Fareed Zakaria's state-centered realism theory, Emphasizing its study in Iran, Foreign Relations Quarterly, 15(3), 112-134. doi: 10.22034/fr.2024.411934.1434.

Shweller, Randall L (2002)., “Missed Opportunities and Unanswered Threats: Domestic Constraints on the Balance of Power”, Paper Presented at the annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Boston, Massachusetts.

Sil, Rudra & Katzenstein, Peter. (2010). Beyond Paradigms: Analytic Eclecticism in the Study of World Politics.

Vasileiadis, P. (2023). Reconstructing neoclassical realism: a transitive approach. International Relations, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00471178231185747.

Waltz, K. (1979) Theory of In