Theory of International Politics by Kenneth N.WALTZ Essay

Theory of International Politics by Kenneth N.WALTZ - Essay Example make some claim to being theoretically important; to construct a theory of international politics that remedies the defects of present theories† (p.1). On this basis, in Chapter 1, Waltz addresses pre-existing theory pertaining to the correlation between laws and international behaviour. Whilst he acknowledges that legal compliance and laws may provide a correlation to state behaviour and international politics, Waltz feels that is theory that explains them and to this end attempts to reconstruct classic realism through a somewhat scientific approach. On this basis, Waltz’s book seeks to go beyond the classic realist position of politics in terms of state characteristics and state interaction with each other and he argues that â€Å"the idea that international politics can be thought of as a system with a precisely defined structure is neorealism’s fundamental departure from traditional realism.† Therefore Waltz’s central theory of neorealism in international politics is underpinned by Waltz’s proposition that the system of international politics is inherently dependent on a system of anarchy. This system of anarchy according to Waltz effectively creates the international order of hierarchy, which is further defined by states who are unitary rational actors on the one hand and rational actors on the other. To this end, Waltz’s discussion of the Cold War, highlights his propensity towards viewing the international political order from a systemic perspective as opposed to considering the intentions of individual states and human behaviour, which is arguably the inherent weakness of the book in context of contemporary international politics. For example, in focusing on the international politics as a whole state system as opposed to individual state level factors, Waltz avoids assumptions about human nature and morality and power in international politics. Waltz’s neo-realist paradigm proposes that the central factor in international politics is