Role of states in International Relations

             The conduct of international politics in the last 50 years clearly shows us that it is states that are the heart of international relations.
             Discuss the accuracy of this statement using neo-realistic based international relation theories and highlight the problems that such an approach faces.
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             The neo-realist theory in International Relations is often simplistically defined as a state-centric theory, specially if considered relatively to other theories. So, the assumption that I am going to focus on - that states are the heart of International Relations - is apparently the basis of this theory whose father is commonly recognised in Kenneth Waltz. My first step will be to explain what is actually meant by the word state', which can easily be misunderstood and which can therefore capsize the whole theory. In fact I am going to clarify how the neo-realist theory needs to be regarded solely as a theoretical view, and how it could be wrongly interpreted if used strictly empirically. I am going to point out how the concept of state' is actually the basis of neo-realism, according to which the existence of the state is a necessary condition for any international stage. Nevertheless, by analysing some of the points of the theory, I will find out that, given the existence of states, the focus shifts straight away to the international stage. Even though the centrality of the state seems to be forsaken, it will be explained why this shift does not contradict the first assumption. Then, after lingering on the historical happenings of the past fifty years, I will try to underline how the theory is still applicable despite any appearance. Finally, by adopting K. Popper's and J. M. Hobson's argument, I will outline the potential and actual hurdles that this assumption - together with the whole theory - encounters in reality.
             Let us imagine a billiard table, in which balls clash one against the other, moving around according to the power and the angle of each hit: the colour and the team' to which each ball belongs have no importance, no kind of influence on the effect of the clash.