Synopses & Reviews
In this careful and critical evaluation of the evolution of the field of international relations over time, Sullivan reflects on how the interaction of real world events, academic trends, methodological debates has resulted in shifts in focus while certain topics or questions remain persistent. Combining synopses of both intellectual developments and empirical research, he suggests that viable theories must transcend current intellectual fashion, bringing together theory and practice while demonstrating the difficulty of assessing competing theories.
Review
"Elegantly written and sweeping in its coverage, Sullivans
Theory of International Relations is a clarion call to recognize that despite the sometimes shifting fashions of approaches to the study of the political relations of states, there is theoretical core that demands our attention."--Randy Siverson, University of California at Davis
Synopsis
This book is a synthetic historiography of present-day international relations theory, a critical analysis of the continuing diversity and complexity of enduring themes through a sustained focus on the analysis of the empirical evidence accumulated by social scientists. Special attention is given to key historical changes in theoretical approaches over the past half-century with full recognition of the contestation over state-based theory, and the changing fortunes of contemporary approaches. The book suggests that viable theories must transcend current intellectual fashion, and attempts to bring together theory and practice while demonstrating the difficulty of assessing competing theories. It addresses multiple strands of thought and assumes that their development cannot be understood in isolation from each other.
Synopsis
In this careful and critical evaluation of the evolution of the field of international relations over time, Sullivan reflects on how the interaction of real world events, academic trends, methodological debates has resulted in shifts in focus while certain topics or questions remain persistent. Combining synopses of both intellectual developments and empirical research, he suggests that viable theories must transcend current intellectual fashion, bringing together theory and practice while demonstrating the difficulty of assessing competing theories.
About the Author
Michael P. Sullivan is Professor of Political Science at the University of Arizona.
Table of Contents
The Territoriality of Theory * Cognitive Waves: Images and Ideas * Decisions: Rational or Not? * The Nation-State: Cause, Curse, or Cure? * Systems: Chaos and Anarchy, or Organized Complexity? * Realism's Circuitous Route: Realpolitik to Structures and Back * Integration, Liberalisms, and Balance: Tales of Two Theories * The Invisible Hand that Wasn't * The Games in International Relations * Stalking Chameleons * References