Theory of International Politics by Kenneth N Waltz

Only Waltz and other writers he refers to in his book as being the theoretical base to his approach, had made any scientifically meaningful progress , up to our days , in an attempt to start decoding one of the phenomena connected with the sociological activity of the human race - the realm of international politics.
I had an unpleasant feeling all along my studies for my bachelor's degree of international politics, and stopped my studies for the master degree after a few weeks, because I did not encounter any approach, in the scientific field of international politics, that met even partially, standards required by the philosophy of science. Those approaches can't explain satisfactorily events in world politics, and of course can't allow us to forecast the shape events are going to take, let alone, allowing us to influence the future, possibilities that are the ultimate tests of a useful theory.
Scientists of international politics are always enthusiastic to be interviewed about events in the International realm and even give their advice what to do, but never ever would be prepared to forecast events to come, claiming that an envision of the future is ability given only to prophets. But theories can be tested only if events to come can be deducted from past and the current situation, according to laws derived from the theories. Giving advice about the future is impossible if you cannot assume the way events will develop in the future, and that is exactly what all other scholars are not prepared to do.

• 1 Laws and Theories
• 2 Reductionist Theories
• 3 Systemic Approaches and Theories
• 4 Reductionist and Systemic Theories
• 5 Political Structures
• 6 Anarchic Orders and Balances of Power
• 7 Structural Causes and Economic Effects
• 8 Structural Causes and Military Effects
• 9 The Management of International Affairs