Neorealism and Its Critics

Rating:
Summary: Waltz fans should stick with Man, the State and War
Review: As some have noted, this is perhaps more about the politics of international theory than about theory of international politics. There is a near complete lack of engagament toward the end of the collection. Ashley preaches to the converted; Gilpin's response is petulant. At least Cox's piece presaged in a way the current rationalist - constructivist (reflectivist) debate...

I would add Theory of International Politics itself to the list of works that haven't stood so well. Waltz fans - and I admit I do not count myself among them - are better off with the original book, or better yet, Man the State and War.

Much more compelling critiques have been published in the years since this volume; this book suffers in comparison. As a statement of where IR scholarship was in the mid-eighties, though, it is probably without peer. 3 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Analysis of International Relations
Review: The definitive book of modern international relations theory, it sythesizes the arguments of Waltz, tries to dissect and clarify them, presents the arguments of his critics, and gives Waltz the opportunity to rebuttal.

Waltz's central precepts are actually quite clear: The international system is the starting point for analysis of state's behavior; the state is the primary unit in that system. The current international system is one of anarchy and that anarchy elicits certain behaviors from the states in the system While useful in analyzing the "high politics" of national security, it is sometimes less useful in events where NGO's play a large role such as the environment or where corporations have primacy (ie global trade). Some readers may also be disappointed by the lack of examples to support or illustrate the theories both pro- and anti- Waltz.

Waltz's critics are sometimes less clear. Ashby, for example, seems blinded by hatred that renders his analysis so abstract as to be practically useless.

A useful, if not completely readable, account of IR theory and developing theories to make sense of world events.

Rating:
Summary: Neorealism and International Relations
Review: This is perhaps one of the most uninformative and dry books I have ever read. This is not a book I would reccomend reading for pleasure or for your own personal knowledge. There are many books which are much more informative and interesting.