The Influence of Individuals in International Relations

Abstract: International relations is typically analyzed through macro- and meso-level perspectives that highlight state power and organizational agency. Yet a wide array of research increasingly challenges this perspective, highlighting the power of specific individuals—both ordinary and extraordinary—to shape key outcomes. This research, however, remains fragmented, with case-by-case analyses illustrating individual agency in specific contexts. We develop a framework that synthesizes disparate insights from across the discipline and offers a systematic understanding of when, where, how, and why individuals can matter in international relations. The framework begins with the observation that individual agents are subject to multiple, heterogenous, and often cross-cutting structural pressures. Within these contexts, individuals navigate these pressures in three broad ways. First, when structural configurations are aligned, individuals must either conform with these demands or challenge them in various ways. Second, when structural demands are orthogonal, individuals can conform to one set of pressures while sidelining others. Third, conflicting structural demands require individuals to choose sides. Conforming with one set of demands implies challenging the other(s). Our framework bridges existing contributions and offers a systematic way to integrate and compare findings on the power of individuals in global politics. 

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