Waltz, Kenneth

Kenneth Waltz was a prominent American political scientist known for his work in international relations. He developed the neorealist (or structural realist) theory, which suggests that the international system's structure—characterized by an anarchic environment with no central authority—primarily determines state behavior. States act mainly to ensure their own security and survival, leading to a balance of power as they respond to each other's actions. Waltz's ideas helped explain why conflict persists even among rational actors and emphasized that the system's structure, rather than individual leaders or countries’ intentions, shapes global geopolitics.