Evaluation of neoclasiccal realism as a foreign policy analysis approach

Abstract

In this study, the main arguments, aims and application areas of neoclassical realism which emerged as a result of the criticism and questioning within the realist tradition due to the theoretical diversification experienced after the Cold War in the discipline of international relations are questioned. The fact that the dominant theory of the discipline, structural (neo) realism, indeed is an international policy theory and that it gives the fundamental determinants to the structure of the international system has caused deficiencies in examining the effects of individual foreign policies of the states. Neoclassical realism, which is essentially a foreign policy analysis approach, provides a theoretical framework for understanding foreign policy behaviors by combining the determinism of local dynamics with the pressure of the international system in order to overcome this deficiency. In the article, how neoclassical realism differs from other realist theories is examined through independent, dependent and intervening variables which are the components of the foreign policy analysis model it has constructed, and ultimately criticisms of neoclassical realism are discussed through new studies. And finally, the contribution the analysis of the foreign policies of the states from the realist point of view has made especially to the analysis of the changing international policy conditions has been tried to be explained.

Sosyal Bi̇li̇mlerde Makale Yazimi Üzeri̇ne

“…Realist teoriyi eleştirel bir şekilde inceleyen Aydın (2004) ve Liberal teorinin güç olgusuna yaklaşımını tartışan Bozdağlıoğlu ve Özen (2004), bu konudaki önemli örnekler olarak karşımıza çıkmaktadır. Ayrıca, Neoklasik Realizm'in bir dış politika analizi teorisi olduğunu savunan Kiraz (2020), son dönemde yayımlanan çalışmalar arasında kapsamlı literatür taraması makalesi olarak kayda geçen değerli bir çalışmadır. Literatür taraması şeklindeki makaleler özellikle konuyla ilgili araştırma yapmak isteyenler için çok iyi bir referans kaynak niteliğindedir.…”