國際關係新古典現實主義理論

Analytical Appraisal of Neoclassical Realism

本文以後冷戰時期國際關係理論的發展走向為經，以層次分析為偉，來探討新古典現實主義，將該理論的興起背景、性質特色、理論主張、研究方法架構、以及各方面的評估觀點，作了全盤性的分析與論述。本文結論，雖然新古典現實主義發展至今為時甚短，但已展現具體理論架構和研究成果。它提供現實主義理論一個整合形態的架構，跨越國際體系和外交政策的鴻溝，以及調和實證主義和後實證研究方法的對立。然而，不容否認的，新古典現實主義「混合式」的理論主張和研究方法架構，減低了該理論的特殊性和純淨性，而且是否能禁得起時間考驗，主要還決定在適用性、新議題擴展、和解釋力三個方面，尤其可否建立具合理邏輯關係的中程理論，以及對後冷戰國際關係單極體系的外交政策行為提出有效的解釋。

With a background of post-Cold War international relation theories and a focus on the level of analysis, this article provides a systematic examination of the rise of neoclassical realism, the nature of the theory, including theoretical assumptions, works, and critiques. The author concludes that neoclassical realism, despite its short period of establishment, has successfully developed a research program and produced a certain amount of scholarly works. It has provided a comprehensive theoretical framework for the realism approach, brought domestic politics back into international relations, and allowed the framework to adopt both empirical and constructive research methods. However, there is no doubt that the mixed type of the theoretical approach has undermined its theoretical consistency and distinctiveness. Whether neoclassical realism will flourish as a fully developed theory or theoretical work will depend on its applicability to foreign policy analysis during the post-Cold War period and the ability to generate a middle-range theory.