Examine the coercive and non-coercive dimensions of national power and evaluate the significance of latent capabilities in determining a state’s strategic influence in international politics.

Introduction National power constitutes one of the foundational concepts of International Relations (IR), serving as the principal determinant of a state's capacity to secure its interests, shape international outcomes, and influence the behaviour of other actors within an anarchic international system. From classical realism to contemporary constructivism, scholars have consistently regarded power as the central … Continue reading Examine the coercive and non-coercive dimensions of national power and evaluate the significance of latent capabilities in determining a state’s strategic influence in international politics.

What are the major points of contention between classical and modern (structural/neorealist) traditions within Realist thought in International Relations, and to what extent do they exhibit conceptual continuity despite their theoretical divergences?

Classical Realism and Neorealism in International Relations: Conceptual Dissonances and Theoretical Continuities Realism, as one of the oldest and most enduring traditions in the study of International Relations (IR), offers a coherent framework for understanding the anarchic nature of the international system and the primacy of power in state behavior. Within this broader school, however, … Continue reading What are the major points of contention between classical and modern (structural/neorealist) traditions within Realist thought in International Relations, and to what extent do they exhibit conceptual continuity despite their theoretical divergences?

Kenneth Waltz’s Theory of International Politics (1979) is widely regarded as the foundational text of neorealism, or structural realism, a major theoretical school in international relations (IR) that redefined and systematized realist thought. Waltz’s work marks a significant departure from earlier classical realism, most notably associated with scholars like Hans Morgenthau (1948), by introducing distinct … Continue reading In what ways did Kenneth Waltz’s ‘Theory of International Politics’ (1979) serve as a foundational text for neorealism? What specific arguments and methodological shifts did it introduce that marked a departure from earlier realist thought?