The Development and Extension of Structural Realist Foreign Policy Theory and Considerations for Understanding Chinese Foreign Policy

    Abstract: The present deficit of effective theories of foreign policy, has led scholars of international relations theory to debate whether crafting simple and systematic theories of foreign policy is possible, and whether such theories stemming from structural realism are tenableThis article provides an indepth assessment of both progress and gaps in the literature on foreign policy theory stemming from perspectives of offensive realism, defensive realism, neoclassical realism and other realist schools of thoughtThe article continues by attempting to develop a simple yet powerful theory which can enhance the explanatory power of structural realist theories of foreign policyIn closing, the article applies structural realist foreign policy theory to explain patterns in Chinese diplomacy and to illustrate the prospects for applying such theories to future foreign policy efforts.