▁and ▁by ▁adding ▁a ▁system - cent ric ▁approach ▁to ▁the ▁study ▁of ▁state ▁behaviour ▁in ▁international ▁politics ▁based ▁on ▁the ▁structure ▁of ▁the ▁international ▁system . ▁According ly , ▁his ▁off ensive ▁ne ore al ism ▁per tain s ▁to ▁the ▁sub - branch ▁of ▁ne ore al ism ▁alongside ▁other ▁struct ural ▁theories ▁such ▁as ▁def ensive ▁real ism . ▁ ▁Main ▁ten ets ▁The ▁theory ▁is ▁ground ed ▁on ▁five ▁central ▁assumptions ▁similar ▁to ▁the ▁ones ▁that ▁lie ▁at ▁the ▁core ▁of ▁Kenneth ▁W alt z ' s ▁def ensive ▁ne ore al ism . ▁These ▁are : ▁ ▁Great ▁powers ▁are ▁the ▁main ▁actors ▁in ▁world ▁politics ▁and ▁the ▁international ▁system ▁is ▁an arch ical ▁ ▁All ▁states ▁possess ▁some ▁off ensive ▁military ▁cap ability ▁ ▁States ▁can ▁never ▁be ▁certain ▁of ▁the ▁intent ions ▁of ▁other ▁states ▁ ▁States ▁have ▁surv ival ▁as ▁their ▁primary ▁goal ▁ ▁States ▁are ▁rational ▁actors , ▁capable ▁of ▁coming ▁up ▁with ▁sound ▁strateg ies ▁that ▁maxim ize ▁their ▁prospect s ▁for ▁surv ival ▁ ▁Like ▁def ensive ▁ne ore al ism , ▁off ensive ▁real ism ▁pos its ▁an ▁an arch ic ▁international ▁system ▁in ▁which ▁rational ▁great ▁powers ▁uncertain ▁of ▁other ▁states ' ▁intent ions ▁and ▁capable ▁of ▁military ▁off ensive ▁st rive ▁to ▁surv ive . ▁Although ▁initially ▁developed ▁from ▁similar ▁propos itions ▁to ▁those ▁of ▁def ensive ▁ne ore al ism , ▁M ear she imer ' s ▁off ensive ▁ne ore al ism ▁adv ances ▁dr ast ically