Final answer:
Neo-realists believe that the structure of the international system is the most important source of state behavior, dictating how states act to maintain power and ensure security within an anarchic global setting.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dominant view of structural, or neo-realists, is that the most important source of state behavior is the structure of the international system. According to neo-realism or structural realism, states are the main actors in an anarchic system where there is no central authority. These states align their policies with the structural dictates of the international system rather than with individual leaders' personalities or preferences.
Realism suggests that states aim to ensure their own security and maintain power. Neorealism builds upon this by emphasizing that the international structure dictates states' behavior, encouraging them to pursue their interests within the confines of established norms and through international institutions like NATO.
Neorealists contend that a balance of power among states is essential for global security and that policies are designed to maintain this balance, as opposed to purely reflecting the will of the most powerful state leaders.