Neoclassical realism

Neoclassical realism is a theory of international relations. It is a combination of classical realist and neorealist (particularly defensive realist) theories.

Neoclassical realism holds that the actions of a state in the international system can be explained by domestic variables affecting the power of the decision-makers within a state. While holding true to the neorealist concept of balance of power, neoclassical realism further adds that states' mistrust and inability to perceive one another accurately can result in an imbalance:

• Appropriate balancing occurs when a state correctly perceives another state's intentions and balances accordingly.
• Inappropriate balancing or overbalancing occurs when a state incorrectly perceives another state as threatening, and uses too many resources than it needs to in order to balance. This causes an imbalance.
• Underbalancing occurs when a state fails to balance, out of either inefficiency or incorrectly perceiving a state as less of threat than it actually is. This causes an imbalance.
• Nonbalancing occurs when a state avoids balancing through buck passing, bandwagoning, or other escapes. A state may choose to do this for a number of reasons, including an inability to balance.^[1]

• William Wohlforth (1993)
• Thomas Christensen (1996)
• Alastair J. H. Murray (1997)
• Randall Schweller (1998)
• Fareed Zakaria (1998)

References

1. ^ Randall Shweller, "Unanswered Threats: A Neoclassical Realist Theory of Underbalancing," International Security, 29(2), (Fall 2004), pp.159-201.