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The ideas behind public policy, explained.

Clear, sourced explanations of the concepts that shape foreign policy, law, security and the economy, with every school of thought in its own best terms.

Start with: Neoconservatism: How Disillusioned Liberals Changed American Conservatism · Civil Society: Six Myths and What the Facts Say · Republic vs Democracy: Two Old Words and Why the United States Is Both

Allen Drury and the Washington Novel: Roger Kaplan’s Essay Explained Essay guide · Roger Kaplan, Policy Review No. 97, October & November 1999 Roger Kaplan argued in 1999 that Allen Drury's Advise and Consent (1959) invented the modern Washington novel and remains the one book of the… Read the essay guide
Fig. 0.1 The map of ideas: 6 fields, 22 concepts
Foreign Policy Security Law Ideas Economy & Society Policy Analysis Balance of power Eisenhower Doctrine Hard power Isolationism Realpolitik Soft power Foreign policy Civil society Direct democracy Neoconservatism Republic vs democracy Socialism vs communism Globalization Keynesian economics Judicial activism Judicial review Stare decisis Textualism Mercenaries Mutually assured destruction Failed state What is public policy?

Scroll the map sideways

Balance of power

Foreign Policy

The balance of power is the idea that states stay secure when power in the international system is spread out, so that no single state can dominate the rest. When one country grows too powerful, others arm themselves or form alliances against it until a rough equilibrium returns.

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Each concept is placed by where it is argued: at home or between states, as a theory or inside institutions. Placement is orientation, not judgement. Point at a concept to read its definition; ticked points are concepts you have read.

Placement: Policy Review editors, reviewed October 2026.

Six fields, one method

Each field gathers the concepts that are usually argued together. Pick one, or follow a point on the map.

Fig. 0.2 The fields and what they cover
FieldWhat it coversConceptsCount
Foreign Policy How states deal with one another: power, alliances, doctrines and the theories that explain them. Balance of power, Eisenhower Doctrine, Hard power, Isolationism 7
Security War, deterrence, terrorism and the private armies in between. Mercenaries, Mutually assured destruction, Failed state 3
Law Constitutions, courts and the doctrines judges use to read them. Judicial activism, Judicial review, Stare decisis, Textualism 4
Ideas Ideologies, forms of democracy and the arguments behind them. Civil society, Direct democracy, Neoconservatism, Republic vs democracy 5
Economy & Society Markets, welfare, trade and the populations they serve. Globalization, Keynesian economics 2
Policy Analysis The craft itself: what public policy is, and how briefs, memos and evaluations are made. What is public policy? 1

Essays that are still argued about

From 1977 to 2013 this address published the journal Policy Review. For its most-cited essays we write new guides: the argument, the context, the reception, and a link to the original.

All essay guides
  1. What Is Cruel and Unusual Punishment? Benjamin Wittes’s Answer In a 2005 Policy Review essay, Benjamin Wittes argued that the Supreme Court's 'evolving standards of decency' test left the Eighth Amendment without a… Essay guide · 6 min
  2. Anti-Semitism and Ethnicity in Europe: John Rosenthal’s 2003 Argument In a 2003 Policy Review essay, John Rosenthal argued that anti-Semitism in Europe was underreported, homegrown rather than simply imported, and echoed by parts… Essay guide · 6 min
  3. Peacekeepers, Inc.: P. W. Singer on Privatized Peacekeeping In 2003 P. W. Singer asked whether private military firms should take over peacekeeping when governments will not send troops. He saw real gains… Essay guide · 6 min
  4. Scoop Jackson Democrat: Joseph Lieberman’s 1990 Interview Explained In a 1990 Policy Review interview, Senator Joseph Lieberman argued that Democrats should return to the tradition of Roosevelt, Truman and Kennedy: economic growth… Essay guide · 5 min
  5. Al Qaeda’s Fantasy Ideology: Lee Harris on 9/11 as Theater Lee Harris argued in 2002 that the 9/11 attacks were not Clausewitzian war aimed at a political concession but a symbolic drama staged for… Essay guide · 6 min
  6. Norman’s Conquest: Mark Gerson on the Norman Podhoretz Legacy Writing in Policy Review in fall 1995, Mark Gerson argued that Norman Podhoretz, editor of Commentary from 1960 to 1995, won the battle of… Essay guide · 6 min

How a concept is explained here

  1. The definition first. Two sentences that answer the question you searched for.
  2. Its place on the map. Which field it belongs to, and which concepts it is argued against.
  3. Every side in its best terms. Proponents and critics, described the way they would describe themselves.
  4. Sources you can check. Primary texts, court decisions and official data, listed at the end and dated.
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