Theory and reality of international politics

Abstract

Part 1 The argument: levels of explanation international politics - anarchy and states' non-mobility spatial heterogeneity vs. temporal homogeneity why state the obvious? modifications and counter-modifications. Part 2 IR theory - a critical evaluation: literature on explanatory levels comparative foreign and small state research the theory of Kenneth Waltz from bipolarity to post-bipolarity. Part 3 The preferred mode of explanation - a further presentation: explanatory logic and level salient environment and polarity environment polarities - illustrations European heterogeneities 1989-94 - from the Hague to Kiev. Part 4 Testing theories: tension between the strong and the strategy of the weak balancing vs. bandwagoning - testing balance-of-power theory Nordic engagements vis-a-vis the Baltic countries - a geopolitical approach. Part 5 Salient environment and domestic explanatory factors - the nature of the interplay: levels of explanation - complementarism vs. supplementarism the house on fire external danger/internal cohesion-centralization non-mobility revisited control, relax, guide inertia and foreign policy lessons the role of internal factors in theory-building. Part 6 Two illustrations of interplay: learning within geopolitical parameters - alliance policy from Helsinki to Warsaw European integration and national bandwagoning 1989-94 - facing a pole of attraction. Part 7 The role of international organizations: IGOs - the control-relax model reapplied IGOs as state instruments control-relax and theories of European integration. Part 8 Theory and reality of international politics: conclusions critical rationalism and its realism complementarism vs. supplementarism IR schools - why bother?.