ABSTRACT

A theory of international politics should explain how that area functions, in the same way as microeconomics explains the functioning of markets. The focus on the structure meant that issues related to how processes unfold in international politics or why states behave in a specific way were not under consideration. Kenneth Waltz’s Theory of International Politics is one of the most important, but also a highly criticised book in the history of International Relations. According to his theory, the anarchical system is the key explanatory factor in international politics, the eternal structure that explains the units’ behaviour, in this case, that of states. Political, economic and technological conditions lead to a frequent “redistribution of power in the system.” In general, liberals believe in the appeasing effects of trade and economic intercourse and have had the upper hand in promoting an international political system that materialises that ideal.