Neorealism and Its Unfair Critics

Neorealist arguments get misrepresented much more frequently than any other theories’ arguments, and neorealism regularly gets attacked on unfair grounds. In any good scientific environment critique is seen as something positive. But misrepresenting arguments is different: It is morally reprehensible and obstructive to scientific progress. I’d like to point out two examples.

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War, States, and Technology

Technology is an important aspect on the battle field and technological advancements are rapid and fundamental. I’d like to highlight in this post that advancements in military technology do not just change the way we fight, but also the way our world is organized.

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Big Questions, Significant Results, and EU Integration

The usual understanding is that one can either study the abstract or the specific, but not both at the same time. I argue that the topic of differentiated integration in the European Union offers an opportunity to do just that.

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Terrorism, Interstate War, and Perceptions of Threat

Ever since 9/11, terrorism receives much attention in both the scholarly literature and the public discourse. I argue that terrorism will be of much less interest in due time. The big threats in international politics still stem from interstate war and conflict, and recently the international security environment has been heating up considerably.

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Rising China Reconsidered III: Consolidation, Escalation, Stagnation

Where is China heading to? I think that we can identify three relevant possible developments. Under the assumption of the continued rise of China, China may either contribute to an escalation or consolidation of international politics. A third view is offered by rejecting the assumption of the continued rise of China.

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Rising Tensions in East Asia

Tensions in East Asia are rising, and increasingly so. Unfortunately, the topic does not get enough attention in Europe.

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War, States, and Security Studies

Wars, all their bad aspects aside, also have surprisingly positive consequences. Many of the good aspects of today’s states, such as social security systems or representative democracy, might never have been established without them. The state system as it is today might never have formed. These relations are more and more neglected.

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The South China Sea Dispute: A Glimpse into our Future?

This post unravels some of the main aspects of the South China Sea dispute, which has recently gained some spotlight in media and politics. Thereby, it offers a glimpse into one of the most important future conflicts.

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The Democratic Peace Theory and Its Critics

The democratic peace theory (DPT) has become common knowledge today. I’d like to point out the very basics of the DPT and then focus, since I suspect that its strong sides are well known already, on its biggest problems and challenges.

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International Politics Works… Usually

International politics works well. This statement may seem banale, but it is not. Scholars of international relations repeatedly emphasize negative developments, which is especially true for those following the realist school. In the end, we need to be aware that international politics offers both encouraging developments towards peace and stability and a depressingly enduring tendency [...]

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The Strategic Relevance of Japan I: Location, Potential, Culture

A country often overlooked in today’s discourse on international politics is Japan. Its neglect is mostly due to the growing importance of China. But exactly the rise of China is an important reason to think hard about the situation of Japan and the opportunities it offers to Western states.

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