The main focus of this paper is to reevaluate the role of ideas in realist theorybecause ideas can condition the exercise of “power” in international politics. However,by privileging parsimony over theoretical depth, structural realism (or neorealism)left the important impact of ideas on power politics uninvestigated. In doing so,realism itself has generally been criticized by constructivists as a largely emptyrationalist theory. However, this criticism is somewhat misleading. In particular,some classical realist and various modified realist theories implicitly address theimpact of ideas on power politics and state behaviors, allowing enough potential forthe integration of ideas into the realist canon. These theories can help realists toescape from the strictures of rationalist theories. Therefore, these theories ? theso-called “constructive realism” that combines realism with ideational factors fittingfor constructivism ? can pave the way for securing greater explanatory power inregards to dynamic aspects of world politics by enhancing the understanding ofideational components of power and recent notable global phenomena (especially international terrorism).