A critical analysis of the U.S pivot toward the Asia-Pacific: How realistic is neo-realism?

A critical analysis of the U.S pivot toward the Asia-Pacific: How realistic is neo-realism?

1. Neo-Realism/Sturctural

   • Defensive
     • explains the manner in which the structure of the international system influences state behaviour
     • Predicts that the anarchy of the international system cases states to become obsessed with security
   • offensive
     • primarily associated with John Mearsheimer
     • claims that states are insatiable for power
   • derived from classic realism, but its focus is on the anarchic structure of the international system, instead of human nature
   • unipolar, bipolar, multipolar

2. Neo-Conservatism

   • A political philosophy developed in the 1970s and 1980s, advocating the active use of government power in pursuit of conservative domestic and foreign policies.

3. Classical Realism

   • "human nature realism"
   • Classical Realism is a theory of International Relations established in the post-World War II era that seeks to explain international politics as a result of human nature

4. Neo-Classical-realism

   • Neoclassical realism is a theory of international relations. Initially coined by Gideon Rose in a 1998 World Politics review article, it is a combination of classical realist and neorealist – particularly defensive realist – theories.