Neorealism and Its Critics

New Directions in World Politics

by Robert O. Keohane (Editor), Helen Milner (General Editor), John Gerard Ruggie (General Editor)

One of the liveliest debates in American international relations theory today concerns "neorealism," a revival of the tradition that emphasizes the role of interstate power struggles in world affairs. The debate was sparked by the 1979 publication of Kenneth Waltz's Theory of International Relations, which systematized realism as a coherent, deductive theory. This volume provides a unique summary of current thinking on neorealism. Ideal for course use, it presents key portions of Waltz's book along with the most significant critical evaluations of the topic by other leading scholars.

Neorealism's supporters stress how much we can learn by focusing rigorously on the level of the international system, particularly by examining the effects of the distribution of power among states. Critics point out what they feel are neorealism's shortcomings: continuing ambiguities in the concepts of power and balance of power, the importance of internal determinants of foreign policy, difficulties of neorealist theory accounting for change, and what some regard as its tendency to ignore both history and the material conditions on which any international system rests. These issues are not merely of abstract interest, but relate to fundamental values as well as to the question of how humanity can survive in today's nuclear world.

Neorealism and Its Critics addresses these and other vital questions in its critiques of the theory, and of Waltz's book in particular. Featuring contributions by John Ruggie, Robert Cox, Richard Ashley, and Robert Gilpin, with an introductory essay by Keohane and a concluding chapter by Waltz, this book is essential reading for both students and scholars as an up-to-date assessment of neorealism.

Genres: International Relations, Politics, Nonfiction, Political Science, Grad School, Academic, International Affairs

378 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 1985

About the author

Robert O. Keohane (b. 1941) is an American scholar of international relations, best known for his work on neoliberal institutionalism. His numerous books include After Hegemony (1984) and Power and Governance in a Partially Globalized World (2002). Currently a professor at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University, Keohane has received numerous awards for his scholarship. Among these, he was honored with the Centennial Medal of the Harvard Graduate School in 2012. Keohane received his bachelor's degree in 1961 from Shimer College, a Great Books school where he now sits on the Board of Trustees. He received his graduate education at Harvard, where he completed his Ph.D. in 1966. (from Shimer College Wiki)

Reviews

[sube · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book consists out of the most important chapters of "Theory of International Politics" and various essays analyising (neo)realism & one discussing the book in particular; with Waltz giving a response to the other essays at the end.

I will just judge the essays here; the ones by Ruggie & Keohane are useful in its assessments of limits of realism and TIP, and the former gives positive contributions to its framework. The other essays however are often vague or imprecise - the essay by Cox simply restates the Marxist theses on a very basic level without proper exposition, not giving much to deal / engage with, ultimately. Ashley's essay is just incoherent and hard to, though it has some useful points on methodology. The responses by Gilpin and Waltz to the rest are okay, however IMO unconvincing towards the essay by Ruggie and Keohane.

All in all, there are some useful bits and thoughts here, but it's not really essential to read at all..

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your IR experience would not be complete without browsing through a chapter or two of Keohane's Neorealism!

Note to self: A required/suggested reading for International Politics course under Prof. Leszek Buszynski (London School of Economics 1980), Fall Term 2004, International University of Japan.

[Blamb009 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is book where Gilpin writes something nice about realism, and then a bunch of people that aren't neorealists tear into Kenneth Waltz and then Waltz writes the final chapter where he says "Oh, you guys all suck, just a wait a few decades and I'll be right" and then he picks up all his toys and goes home to his mommy.

[Alexander]

Though perhaps a bit dated in light of the outpouring of new critical perspectives on neorealism in the '90s, this is nonetheless a valuable collection, especially for someone (like myself) just beginning to traverse the complex terrain of contemporary IR theory.

[Barry McCulloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I do not agree with Waltz's observations, it is difficult not to admire the simplistic elegance of his model.

[Patrick F · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exemplary display of academic exchange regarding one of the most critically important fundamentals of international relations: the development, testing of, and prediction of theories.

[Abby Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Any book that criticizes neorealism is a good book.

I loved the part where Gilpin and Waltz completely crashed out 10/10

[Ewan Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading the debates between these authors inspired me to pursue a career in IR. I was equally persuaded by authors on all sides of the debate and there seemed to be a potential for synthesis. Edited volumes don't come much better than this. Keohane at his very best. IR theory has gone downhill since though.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

In understanding contemporary realist thought in political science, this is probably somewhat essential. That said, it's so densely academic as to be maddening even to academics.

[Benemint · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's actually well-compiled.

[Lorespar Sparling · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sold this copy