This volume investigates the enduring relevance and theoretical utility of realism as a framework for understanding international politics in the post-Cold War era. Benjamin Frankel, a noted scholar of international security, compiles a series of essays that challenge the notion that realism became obsolete following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The text argues that the fundamental principles of state behavior, power dynamics, and anarchy remain the primary drivers of global affairs, necessitating a rigorous re-examination of realist tenets.

Experts in the field of international relations identify this work as a significant contribution to the debate on the persistence of realist theory. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for scholars and students of political science.