Fred Chernoff

The Power of International Theory

Reforging the Link to Foreign Policy-Making through Scientific Enquiry

• Gebundenes Buch

Produktbeschreibung

The discipline of International Relations was created with a purpose of helping policy-makers to build a more peaceful and just world. However, many of the current trends, post-positivism, constructivism, reflectivism, and post-modernism share a conception of international theory that is inherently incapable of offering significant guidance to policy-makers. The Power of International Theory critically examines these approaches and offers a novel conventional-causal alternative that allows the re-forging of a link between IR theory and policy-making. While recognizing the criticisms of earlier forms of positivism and behavioralism, the book defends holistic testing of empirical principles, methodological pluralism, criteria for choosing the best theory, a notion of 'causality, ' and a limited form of prediction, all of which are needed to guide policy-makers. This book will be an invaluable text for advanced students and researchers in the fields of international relations theory and the philosophy of social science.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Taylor & Francis
• Seitenzahl: 272
• Erscheinungstermin: 27. Januar 2005
• Englisch
• Abmessung: 235mm x 165mm x 21mm
• Gewicht: 553g
• ISBN-13: 9780415701389
• ISBN-10: 0415701384
• Artikelnr.: 21290400

Autorenporträt

Fred Chernoff is Professor of Political Science and Director of the Program in International Relations at Colgate University, Hamilton, New York. He holds a PhD in Philosophy from The Johns Hopkins University and a PhD in Political Science from Yale University. He is also the author of After Bipolarity.

Inhaltsangabe

Introduction
Chapter 1 Policy-making, prediction and the theory of international behaviour
Chapter 2 Social science, naturalism and scientific realism
Chapter 3 Theory, observation and law
Chapter 4 Natural causation, social action and international politics
Chapter 5 Prediction, theory and policy-making
Chapter 6 Explaining agreement and disagreement in the natural sciences and social sciences
Chapter 7 Conclusions