Opening the Black Box: An Examination of Structural Realist and Neoclassical Realist Explanations of Foreign Policy

• Author / Creator

  Oswell, James A

• Structural realist and neoclassical realist theories each seek to explain international relations at different levels of analysis. Using the British strategy of appeasement in the 1930s as a case study, this thesis will evaluate how both theories explain British strategy. Structural realism will be shown to provide a general account by considering how the United Kingdom fit into the general distribution of power, with a number of British actions found to be inconsistent with what would be otherwise expected. A neoclassical realist account of appeasement will provide the means to help explain such inconsistencies, and identify particular ways in which domestic politics played an intervening role in impacting British power, helping to account for the inconsistencies noted in the structural realist account.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Structural Realism
  • International Relations Theory
  • Neorealism
  • Appeasement
  • Neoclassical Realism

• Graduation date

  Fall 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Arts

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3QJ7864G

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.