Inquiry, Logic, and International Politics : With a New Preface by Harvey Starr

Through The Use Of Logic, Simulation, And Empirical Data, Benjamin A. Most And Harvey Starr Develop And Demonstrate A Nuanced And More Appropriate Conceptualization Of Explanation In International Relations And Foreign Policy In Inquiry, Logic, And International Politics. They Demonstrate That A Concern With The Logical Underpinnings Of Research Raises A Series Of Theoretical, Conceptual, And Epistemological Issues That Must Be Addressed If Theory And Research Design Are To Meet The Challenges Of Cumulation In The Study Of International Relations (or Any Area Of Social Science). The Authors Argue For Understanding The Critical, Yet Subtle, Interplay Of The Elements With A Research Triad Composed Of Theory, Logic, And Method. 1. Introduction : Cumulation, Theory, And The Logic Of Inquiry -- 2. Opportunity And Willingness : A Pre-theoretic Framework -- 3. Basic Logic And Research Design : Conceptualization, Case Selection, And The Form Of Relationships -- 4. Conceptualizing War : Attributes And Process -- 5. Foreign Policy Substitutability And Nice Laws : Integrating Process And Theory -- 6. The Logic Of International Structure : Power, War, And Micro-macro Linkages -- 7. Conclusion : Closure, Cumulation, And International Relations Theory. Benjamin A. Most And Harvey Starr ; With A New Preface By Harvey Starr. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Cover 1 Contents 8 List of Illustrations 9 Preface to the 2015 Edition 12 Acknowledgments 30 1. INTRODUCTION: Cumulation, Theory, and the Logic of Inquiry 34 2. OPPORTUNITY AND WILLINGNESS: A Pre-Theoretic Framework 56 3. BASIC LOGIC AND RESEARCH DESIGN: Conceptualization, Case Selection, and the Form of Relationships 80 4. CONCEPTUALIZING WAR: Attributes and Process 101 Appendix to Chapter 4 125 5. FOREIGN POLICY SUBSTITUTABILITY AND “NICE” LAWS: Integrating Process and Theory 130 Appendixes to Chapter 5 157 6. THE LOGIC OF INTERNATIONAL STRUCTURE: Power, War, and Micro-Macro Linkages 166 Appendix to Chapter 6 195 7. CONCLUSION: Closure, Cumulation, and International Relations Theory 201 Notes 224 References 246 Index 262 A 262 B 262 C 262 D 263 E 263 F 263 G 263 H 263 I 264 J 264 K 264 L 264 M 264 N 265 O 265 P 265 R 265 S 265 T 266 U 266 V 266 W 266 Z 267

Through the use of logic, simulation, and empirical data, Benjamin A. Most and Harvey Starr develop and demonstrate a nuanced and more appropriate conceptualization of explanation in international relations and foreign policy in Inquiry, Logic, and International Politics. They demonstrate that a concern with the logical underpinnings of research raises a series of theoretical, conceptual, and epistemological issues that must be addressed if theory and research design are to meet the challenges of cumulation in the study of international relations (or any area of social science). The authors argue for understanding the critical, yet subtle, interplay of the elements with a research triad composed of theory, logic, and method.

An examination of the important roles of theory, logic, and method in international relations research