| Summary: | The Theory of Metarealism is a reformulation of Kenneth N . Waltz's landmark 1979
work, Theory of International Politics. Specifically, the reformulation is of Waltz's market-firm
analogy and more generally his microeconomic logic. The starting points for the Theory of
Metarealism are the two major problems present in structural neorealism, the approach most
closely linked to Waltz's Theory of International Politics. These two major problems are
European integration and the Cold War. Structural neorealism has generally been unable to
explain these two anomalies.
The Theory of Metarealism attempts primarily to address the two major problems by
correcting and building upon the microeconomic logic of Waltz's Theory of International
Politics. The thesis proceeds by first examining in some detail Waltz's Theory of International
Politics, with specific attention being placed on Waltz's use of microeconomics. Secondly, the
major problems with Waltz's approach and with structural neorealism more generally are
highlighted. Third, the Theory of Metarealism is presented, with its two major components
relating to the nature of systems and interunit interaction as a solution to the problems within
Waltz's work and with structural neorealism. Finally, a case study of European security
integration is presented to demonstrate the viability of the second component of the Theory of
Metarealism.
A number of important conclusions are drawn from the introduction of the Theory of
Metarealism. It is determined that structural neorealism and neoliberal institutional as theories of
international relations, can in some ways be synthesized. Secondly, international cooperation is
deemed to be easier to achieve and international cooperation and conflict can be predicted more
easily from the first component of the theory. In general, the Theory of Metarealism offers a
more complete structural neorealist theory of international relations. === Arts, Faculty of === Political Science, Department of === Graduate
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