Theories of International Politics after the Incident of 9/11: The Richness and Weakness of Realist Tradition in the Twentieth-First Century

Abstract

     The events of 9/11 led to the first two wars of the twentieth-first century: the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War. Therefore, like many other internationally significant incidents, it revealed something about theories of international politics. This article explores the impact of 9/11 on the theories of the field, and it finds that realism is the only theoretical approach that remains generally applicable. Furthermore, the article identifies the shortcomings of realism—namely, its premise of secularization, insufficient examination of nonstate actors, and insufficient attention to non-military and economic powers.