Journal Article - Quarterly Journal: International Security

The Inscrutable Intentions of Great Powers

| Winter 2014/15

Summary

Many scholars argue that great powers can reach confident conclusions about each other’s intentions, but these claims are unpersuasive. Neither the domestic characteristics nor behavior of states offers a reliable basis on which to evaluate intentions. These limitations support the theoretical claims of structural realism: competition, not cooperation, will remain the norm among states.

The author has written a policy brief based on this article, "Why the United States and China Are on a Collision Course."

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For Academic Citation: Rosato, Sebastian. “The Inscrutable Intentions of Great Powers.” Quarterly Journal: International Security, vol. 39. no. 3. (Winter 2014/15):
48-88
.

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