Module 1 Flashcards
What is a theory?
a series of propositions o hypotheses that specify relations among variables in order to present explanations and make predictions about phenomena.
not minute
“what are the factors of how people vote”
one of the goals of science: generalization
Social science malpractice to take a singular event in history and apply it to broad phenomena (especially in IR theory)
the goal is to discover laws that govern how people and collectivities act under specific circumstances
in IR, there are SO many variables; are there certain principles and behaviors and constraints in which they operate to predict what’s next?
even knowing about ques that only leads to so much.
examples of theories
evolution stages of cognitive development
modernization: more developed= more democratic
positivism and postpositivism
positivism: there is an objective reality “out there” that can be studied
- tool: scientific method
- example: SAT scores
parsimony
Postpositivism: there is no one singular objective reality only different interpretations
- tool: interpretivist methods (notes are only going to tell you what you’ve experienced in this circumstance). we have different ways of looking at the world through your own subjective reality. intervening variable
- example: DT
complexity
what is IR theory?
a set of templates or prepackaged analytical structures for the multiple ways in which an even or activity that is international or transnational might be categorized, explained, or understood
why do states behave the way they do?
identify patterns to international events, explain cause and effect relationships.
approach adopted should depend on the question you are interested in answering ( not driven by ideology or methodology)
IR theory as lenses
ir theories are perspectives based on different assumptions about behavior at different levels of analysis
leaders, people, public opinion, states, the constitution of the global
President Bush’s announcement
reasons free disarm danger selective targets undermine sadam hussain campaign 35 countries are given SUPPORT chosen to bare the duty and honor of serving peace of a troubled world trust people depend on you liberate honorable and decent spirit of the military no regard for conventions of war civilian men women and children a final atrocity against his people spare innocent civilians united, stable and free country respect for its citizens no ambition but to remove a threat and restore control to people protection of the innocent reluctantly our purpose is sure will not live at the mercy of these people WOMD military vs docs fp decisive force the dangers of our country and our world we will overcome defend freedom, bring freedom to others
