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Reckless States and Realism

Kenneth Waltz opted to reject the rational actor assumption in developing his theory of international politics. That choice, I argue in this article, creates three problems for his theory. First, it means that it is unsuited for explaining state behavior, which means it is of limited utility for explaining the workings of the international system. Second, Waltz's claim that his theory is well suited to explaining international outcomes — as opposed to state behavior — is unconvincing. Those outcomes are heavily influenced by the actions of the great powers, but if his theory cannot predict their behavior, it is unlikely to reliably predict the outcomes of their behavior. Third, Waltz's assumption that states often behave recklessly leads to a more competitive world than described in his theory. I conclude with the suggestion that the theory's greatest virtue is its normative value — its ability to explain how the world should work, not how it works.

Key Words: balancing • international outcomes • normative theory • rational actor assumption • realism • state behavior • status-quo bias • suboptimal behavior • theory of foreign policy • theory of international relations

International Relations, Vol. 23, No. 2, 241-256 (2009)
DOI: 10.1177/0047117809104637


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