Positional Realism: A Theory of Foreign Policy

This book proposes Positional Realism as a new theory to define the overall national interests of great powers and examines the six great powers in the nineteenth century to verify these hypotheses, finding that it can provide useful and important directions for strategy-making.

Format: Hardback
Length: 302 pages
Publication date: 01 December 2022
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This book takes a novel approach to understanding foreign policy by adopting a rationalist research path. Its central question revolves around the appropriate definition of the overarching national interests of great powers, with the aim of guiding states in developing coherent and rational grand strategies. Existing frameworks in Foreign Policy Analysis and other theoretical research fail to provide a definitive answer to this question.

To address this gap, the book introduces the concept of Positional Realism, which proposes a fresh perspective to define national interests from the power position and order position perspectives. It identifies four distinct types of positional interests: hegemonic states, contending states, potential contending states, and non-contending states. Each great power possesses its own unique positional power and order objectives, shaping its foreign policy approaches.

Based on these positional interests, the book offers a range of foreign policy hypotheses and suggestions. It examines the six great powers of the nineteenth century to validate these hypotheses and demonstrates that Positional Realism not only explains the success or failure of their actions but also provides valuable insights for strategy-making among great powers.

In conclusion, this book offers a groundbreaking theory of foreign policy that challenges traditional perspectives and provides a more comprehensive understanding of the complex dynamics between great powers. By adopting a rationalist research path and introducing the concept of Positional Realism, it offers valuable insights for policymakers, scholars, and anyone interested in the study of international relations.

Weight: 641g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811968280
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023