the realist perspective on international relations is highly influenced by so-called neoclassical realists, who attempt to combine structural factors with domestic politics in order to explain foreign policy.
neoclassical realists open the black book of the state and thereby return to a richer and more exclusive understanding of realism found in earlier formulations of the perspective.
this development is not necessarily a contrast or challenge to neorealist theory, but it does accentuate the need to explicate how neorealism may contribute to our understanding of foreign policy
the style and content of waltz's theory unite to make it a powerful, if imperfect, basis for analyses of international politics and foreign policy. for this reason, TIP is likely to retain a strong position within the realist perspective in the year to come.