Theory and Reality of International Politics

Download or read book Theory and Reality of International Politics written by Hans Mouritzen and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2019-05-20 with total page 237 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: First published in 1998, this volume deals with the explanation of international politics and foreign policy. Levels of explanation and their interrelationships offer the book’s structure. Based on critiques of major IR approaches, a ‘bottom-up’ instead of a systemic ‘top-down’ perspective (Waltz) is advocated, but without falling prey to reductionism explaining international politics from domestic factors. Explanation of state behaviour should primarily stress states’ salient environment, but occasionally also their historical lessons from previous experience with this environment. International organizations or other non-state actors may be allowed an influence of their own in certain areas, but the state remains in ultimate control.