Systemic pressures and domestic ideas: a neoclassical realist model of grand strategy formation

What is it about?

This piece builds a neoclassical realist model that integrates strategic ideas as an intervening variable between system structure and foreign policy outcomes.

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Why is it important?

This piece is an example of type ii neoclassical realism that seeks to explain grand strategic adjustment. It's significant in the literature in two ways: first, it integrates ideational rather than material intervening variables in a neoclassical realist framework and sets out the theoretical justification for that move; and second, it's a purely deductive theoretical enterprise, rather than being case-driven.