The article argues that Alexander Wendt\u27s Social Theory of International Politics is unusual mix of orthodoxy in terms of discipline-identity and heterodoxy in terms of the theory that should fill it out. Wendt is consciously staying within the identity-defining parameters of the discipline, including its reference to states as the main organising principle and unitary intentional actor, to more legitimately undermine his two main theoretical targets, methodological and ontological individualism, as well as materialism. He achieves this not by simply rejecting the other positions but by gathering, synthesising, indeed some times "assimilating" apparently antagonistic meta theoretical and theoretical positions within his wider constructiv...