This article examines the nature of structural analysis in neorealism and world-system theory, critiquing the structural conceptions found in each. The author aims to use this critique to develop a new approach to structural theorizing about international relations, inspired by the work of "structuration theorists" in sociology. The first section explores the nature of the agent-structure "problem" and identifies the principal kinds of solutions to it. The second section suggests that neorealism and world-system theory embody two such solutions, methodological individualism and structuralism, respectively. The third section defines the structurationist approach and its foundations in realist philosophy of science. The fourth section examines the general epistemological and theoretical implications of structuration theory for explaining state action. The conclusion returns to some implications of scientific realism for social scientific research.This article examines the nature of structural analysis in neorealism and world-system theory, critiquing the structural conceptions found in each. The author aims to use this critique to develop a new approach to structural theorizing about international relations, inspired by the work of "structuration theorists" in sociology. The first section explores the nature of the agent-structure "problem" and identifies the principal kinds of solutions to it. The second section suggests that neorealism and world-system theory embody two such solutions, methodological individualism and structuralism, respectively. The third section defines the structurationist approach and its foundations in realist philosophy of science. The fourth section examines the general epistemological and theoretical implications of structuration theory for explaining state action. The conclusion returns to some implications of scientific realism for social scientific research.