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Neoclassical Realism, the State, and Foreign Policy
Abstract
Neoclassical realism is an important new approach to international relations. Focusing on the interaction of the international system and the internal dynamics of states, neoclassical realism seeks to explain the grand strategies of individual states as opposed to recurrent patterns of international outcomes. This book offers the first systematic survey of the neoclassical realist approach. The editors lead a group of senior and emerging scholars in presenting a variety of neoclassical realist approaches to states' grand strategies. They examine the central role of the 'state' and seek to explain why, how, and under what conditions the internal characteristics of states intervene between their leaders' assessments of international threats and opportunities, and the actual diplomatic, military, and foreign economic policies those leaders are likely to pursue.
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“Turkey's 'EUropean' foreign policy in the Middle East is a testament to how attractive the liberal international world order is in the eyes of Turkish decision makers. 12”
From Turkish Foreign Policy in a Changing World Order (2019) · cites this paper as [12]
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“Neoclassical realist authors, in turn, have emphasized the importance of leaders’ perceptions and the ability of governments to extract resources from their societies for foreign policy purposes (Rose 1998; Lobell, Ripsman, and Taliaferro 2009).”
BackgroundTowards Global International Relations
Acharya, A., & Buzan, B. G. (2019) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108647670.011 · Cited by 7
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Britain's Grand Strategy during the 1930s
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Jervis, R. L. (2015) · International Politics · doi:10.1057/ip.2015.23 · Cited by 4
“…one, this kind of dynamic is not unfamiliar, although the focus on the domestic politics involved, discussed so well by Terhalle, requires realists to broaden their focus from the politics between states to include politics within them (Rose, 1998, pp. 144–172; Lobell et al, 2009; May et al, 2010).”
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Gilpin approachesWar and Change: a classical realist in structural drag
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James, P. (2022) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780197645024.003.0013 · Cited by 3
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“Classical realism combines human nature and the state, emphasizing that selfish human behaviour manifests in state actions, resulting in key factors for conflicts between states (Lobell, Ripsman, and Taliaferro 2009, 14-16).”
BackgroundAid, Peacebuilding, and Human Security: Japan’s Engagement in South Sudan, 2011–2017
Tana, M. T. C. (2021) · Journal of Peacebuilding & Development · doi:10.1177/15423166211014811 · Cited by 3
“…importance of the international anarchic environment and the relative distribution of power (or balance of power) but, unlike structural realism, regards anarchy as a permissive condition that allows states substantial room to manoeuvre in defining their security interests (Lobell et al., 2009).”
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da Cunha, R. C., & Farias, R. D. S. (2011) · Revista Brasileira de Política Internacional · doi:10.1590/s0034-73292011000200003 · Cited by 3
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Chand, B., & Danner, L. K. (2017) · Journal of Borderlands Studies · doi:10.1080/08865655.2017.1348909 · Cited by 3
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“For neoclassical realist insights, see: Hadfield-Amkhan (2010); Kitchen (2010); Lobell et al. (2009); Rose G (1998); Schweller (2003, 2004); Zakaria (1992, 1998). 4. Pant (2009) points to these capability factors of great powers by referring to the work of Waltz (1979). 5.”
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The Unipolar Torment: Analysing grand strategic overstretch of the United States
Baig, M. A. (2023) · Cogent Arts and Humanities · doi:10.1080/23311983.2023.2286076 · Cited by 2
“On the other hand, Waltz doubted the rational behaviour of states (Lobell et al., 2009, p. 22).”
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Coutinho, Y. B., & Rodriguez, J. C. C. (2024) · Contexto Internacional · doi:10.1590/s0102-8529.20244602e20230014 · Cited by 2
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Aryal, S. K. (2024) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781003509684 · Cited by 2
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Sánchez, F. (2019) · Papel Político · doi:10.11144/javeriana.papo23-2.rnpe · Cited by 2
Should Realism Return to its Roots?
Schuessler, J. M. (2010) · International Studies Review · doi:10.1111/j.1468-2486.2010.00962.x · Cited by 2
Hill, C., Toje, A., Hansen, F. S., et al. (2014) · International Politics Reviews · doi:10.1057/ipr.2014.8 · Cited by 2
“For that reason our book may be viewed as an addition to the recent wave of studies by socalled neoclassical realists, who have sought to combine Waltzian assumptions about the anarchic structure of the international system with other explanatory factors (cf. Rose, 1998; Lobell et al, 2009).”
Do leaders still decide? The role of leadership in Russian foreign policymaking
Simão, L. (2012) · International Politics · doi:10.1057/ip.2012.12 · Cited by 2
Kowert, P. A., & Thies, C. G. (2012) · Journal of International Relations and Development · doi:10.1057/jird.2012.26 · Cited by 2
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Glenn, J. G. (2011) · Review of International Studies · doi:10.1017/s0260210510001476 · Cited by 2
Neoconservatism, Neoclassical Realism, and the Narcissism of Small Differences
Caverley, J. D. (2013) · Palgrave Macmillan UK eBooks · doi:10.1057/9781137303769_9 · Cited by 3
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Barkin, J. S. (2015) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9781316337042.008 · Cited by 2
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Pekkanen, S., Ravenhill, J., Foot, R., & Khong, Y. F. (2014) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199916245.013.0005 · Cited by 2
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Taliaferro, J. W. (2012) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9781139136808.008 · Cited by 2
da Silva, I. C. (2016) · Contexto Internacional · doi:10.1590/s0102-8529.2016380200003 · Cited by 2
Smith, K. (2017) · International Politics · doi:10.1057/s41311-017-0020-5 · Cited by 2
“Given this, it is unsurprising that neoclassical realism is firmly established in the literature so only a cursory introduction is necessary here (e.g. Lobell et al, 2009; Toje and Kunz, 2012a).”
BackgroundRosa, P., & Foradori, P. (2017) · Italian Political Science Review/Rivista Italiana di Scienza Politica · doi:10.1017/ipo.2017.13 · Cited by 2
“…between the change in the balance of power and state (re)action there is not a direct link; there are many intervening variables, located at the unit level (individual and domestic variables), which affect how a government responds to international events (Rose, 1998; Lobell et al., 2009).”
Hynek, N., & Karmazín, A. (2020) · Europe Asia Studies · doi:10.1080/09668136.2020.1776222 · Cited by 2
“While the bridge between the two levels of analysis is provided by a neoclassical realist theoretical frame for Schweller, the literature on foreign policy analysis can arguably be utilised to further reinforce the connection (Haas 2001; Barkin 2009; Lobell et al. 2009).”
BackgroundA Theory of Non-Military Internal Balancing
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“Classical realists see leadership through the analysis of its relation to power and international order (Waltz, 1959; Lobell et al., 2009).”
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Metadata
- Venue
- Cambridge University Press eBooks
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Published
- 2009-01-15
- OpenAlex
- W594028123
- Cited by
- 691
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 42 · 2025: 49 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 39 · 2022: 88 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 47 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 51 · 2017: 35 · 2016: 34 · 2015: 35 · 2014: 32 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 33
- FWCI
- 44.86
- Type
- book
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cambridge University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › International Relations and Foreign Policy
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Political Science Research and Education
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › History and International Relations
- Keywords
- neoclassical realism, state theory, grand strategy, foreign policy, international system, military policy, international economic policy, international relations theory
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