Leaders want to stay in power. Their self-interest is the decisive motivation for action in the international arena, and forms the theoretical backbone for this exciting departure from other introductory international relations texts. Through its discussion and development of the strategic perspective, "Principles of International Politics" shows students how leaders translate their personal interests and ambitions into actions of the state and convincingly demonstrates how international and domestic politics are inextricably linked. Clearly explaining both the foundational ideas of international relations as well as the key concepts of the strategic perspective, Bueno de Mesquita effectively links these to the analytic tools students will employ throughout.