Neoclassical realism has carved a unique niche by offering a theoretically derived and empirically rich foreign policy analysis framework. Over the years, it has branched out as a theory of mistakes (Type I), a theory of foreign policy (Type II), and a theory of international politics (Type III). This article proposes another challenge to consolidate its offer of a progressive research agenda to position it as a theory for correcting mistakes. The theory of mistakes version differentiates ideal from actual foreign policy. The ideal corresponds to foreign policy that follows the pressures and incentives of the international system; structural realism, the basis for this optimal baseline, is here viewed as a normative theory. If there is a gap between the ideal baseline and the actual outcome, then foreign policy is sub-optimal and therefore costly. According to neoclassical realists, this is the result of the intervention of domestic political processes hijacking foreign policy. It follows that pointing out how to reduce the distorting impact of these domestic variables should help steer foreign policy toward optimality. By identifying the negative consequences that follow from a sub-optimal foreign policy, a theory for correcting mistakes also opens the door to developing prescriptions to manage the inevitable fallout.

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新古典现实主义作为纠正错误的理论：X州下周二应该做什么

新古典现实主义通过提供理论推导和经验丰富的外交政策分析框架，开辟了独特的利基市场。多年来，它已经分支为错误理论（第一类）、外交政策理论（第二类）和国际政治理论（第三类）。本文提出了另一个挑战，以巩固其提供的渐进式研究议程，将其定位为纠正错误的理论。错误理论版本将理想的外交政策与实际的外交政策区分开来。理想的外交政策应遵循国际体系的压力和激励；结构现实主义是这一最佳基线的基础，在这里被视为一种规范理论。如果理想基线与实际结果之间存在差距，那么外交政策就不是最优的，因此代价高昂。新古典现实主义者认为，这是国内政治进程干预劫持外交政策的结果。由此可见，指出如何减少这些国内变量的扭曲影响应该有助于引导外交政策走向最优。通过识别次优外交政策带来的负面后果，纠正错误的理论也为制定应对不可避免的后果的处方打开了大门。