Bidens minilateralism from the perspective of neoclassical realism

Minilateralism has become a defining feature of the Biden foreign-policy doctrine to tackle security issues around the world especially in the Indo-Pacific region. Neoclassical realism, which determines security as the primary objective of all states and incorporates both external and internal variables, provides a more comprehensive perspective to analyze the influence of the international system on state behavior. Therefore, this essay will use the analytical framework summarized from Rose G.s article Neoclassical Realism and Theories of Foreign Policy to analyze the underlying reasons, defining features and development trend of Bidens minilateralism with a view to providing predictions and recommendations. The framework consists of 3 intervening variables. The first is Relative Power. The second is Perceptions of Relative Power, which includes States perceptions and Decision makers perceptions. The last is State Power, which includes State apparatus and State-society relationship.