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Waltz, Kenneth N. Theory of International Politics. 1979 Disclaimer: Theory of International Politics is a deceptively complex and nuanced work – demonstrated best by its enduring legacy. That being said, no ‘outline’ captures everything important contained in the book so please do not take this as the ‘end-all, be-all’ of Waltz’s theories. Nothing substitutes for having read this book carefully, preferably more than once. Quick summary: Structural constraints, particularly the relative distribution of power in the system, determine international politics (rather than the behavior of individual units); bipolar systems are more stable than multipolar ones; interdependence is conducive to war, not peace. ‘The enduring anarchic character of international politics accounts for the striking sameness in the quality of international life through the millennia.’ (p. 66) Reductionist vs. Systemic Theories Waltz differentiates reductionist theories from systemic ones. The difference is not what they deal with but how they arrange their materials and causes. Reductionist or ‘inside-out’ theories concentrate causes at the national or subnational (including individual and internal characteristics of actors/states) level; the whole is understood by knowing the attributes and interactions of its parts. According to Waltz, such theories allow variables to proliferate wildly and fail to deliver a logically sound and traceable process by which effects that derive from the system can be attributed to units. Although the actions and politics of states are decided according to internal processes, those outcomes are shaped by the very presence of other states and interactions with them. Reductionist theories, most importantly, fail to explain continuity over time; the variety of actors and variations in their actions are not matched by a variety of outcomes. System theories, on the other hand, conceive of causes operating at the international level. Structure does not directly affect behavior in the system but does so indirectly through socialization of actor interaction and competition among them. (see p. 75-76 for more) Political Structures Structure is defined by the arrangement of parts, not the characteristics of behavior of units.
Approximate Word count = 1289
Approximate Pages = 5.2
(250 words per page double spaced)
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