SAGE Journal Articles

Chapter 1

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Article 1: Ray, J.L. (October 2001). Integrating Levels of Analysis in World Politics. Journal of Theoretical Politics 13(4). 355-388.

Questions to Consider:

  1. Summarize and explain the distinction the author draws between levels of analysis categories that have to do with the locus of explanatory factors and those having to do with different social entities. Why is that distinction important?
  2. What is the utility of the author’s discussion of the distinction between macroeconomics and microeconomics? What does that help us understand about levels of analysis in IR?
  3. Summarize how levels of analysis can be applied to the problem of the democratic peace.

 

Article 2: Williams, M. C. (September 2009). Waltz, Realism and Democracy. International Relations 23(3). 328-340.

Questions to Consider:

  1. What specific insights does the author claim can be gained in Waltz’s book Foreign Policy and Democratic Politics?
  2. What is significant about Waltz’s concern with democracy, and what does it mean for his version of realism?

 

Article 3: Keohane, R. (June 2012). Twenty Years of Institutional Liberalism. International Relations 26(2). 125-138.

Questions to Consider:

  1. Identify the types of liberalism the author describes in the first part of the essay.
  2. What are the main criticisms of Institutional Liberalism the author describes?
  3. What future role does the author think Institutional Liberalism can play?

 

Article 4: Tickner, A. J. (May 2011). Dealing with Difference: Problems and Possibilities for Dialogue in International Relations. Millennium 39(3). 607-618.

Questions to Consider:

  1. What are Tickner’s main goals in the article? What are her criticisms of current IR theory?
  2. Why is feminism especially well poised to contribute to a new, more pluralist IR scholarship?

 

Article 5: Price, R. & Reus-Smit, C. (September 1998). Dangerous Liaisons: Critical International Theory and Constructivism. Journal of International Relations 4(3) 259-294.

Questions to Consider:

  1. Summarize the central features of international critical theory and constructivism, and outline the main differences between them.
  2. What are the main criticisms of constructivism the authors raise? How may those be resolved?