The Level of analysis Problem in International Relations - J. David Singer

Appearing as chapter 3 in International Politics and forgein Policy edited by J.N.Rosenau

1 / Focus on he parts or the whole / Components of the system / p.20
2 / Observer confronted with system, sub-systems and respective environments / Responsible scholar must. Evaluate relative utility - conceptual and methodological / p.21
3 / An analytical Model [Theory] must:
3.a / offer a highly accurate description of the phenomena
3.b / Present a complete and undistorted picture as possible
3.c / Correlate with objective reality
3.d / Coincide with our empirical referents to the highest degree.
3.e / If sacrifice total representational accuracy must decide where distortion is least dysfunctional / And where accuracy essential
3.f / Capacity to explain relationships among phenomena / Not so much accuracy of description as validity of explanation—If description in conflict with explanation.. favor explain / p.22
3.g / Any analytical model – offer Promise of reliable prediction / p.22
4 / Systematic Levels of Analysis
4.a / Most comprehensive of levels available – most total picture of international relations / Encompassing totality of interactions –within systems and environment
4.b / Focusing on system enables study of patterns of interactions
4.c / Difficulty – tends to exaggerate impact of system on national actors / , discounts impact of actors on system
4. d / moves away form national autonomy and independence of choice / Towards deterministic orientation
4.e / Requires – postulate high degree of uniformity in operational codes of national actors / Inadequate foundation for casual statements but reasonably adequate basis for correlative statements. i.e. correlation , not consequence / p.23
4.f / Reasonably satisfactory as basis for prediction, / Actors and behavior predicted in relatively gross and general terms
5. / National state Level of analysis
Rich detail, greater depth, more intensive protral / Atomized and less coherent image
5.a / Permits significant differentiation among actors / May lead to exaggeration of the differences among sub-system actors. Need balance between similarity and difference
5.b / Tendency to attribute ones own national virtues to own nation and vices to others
5.c / Question if man and society pursue goals of own choosing / Or are forces beyond control. – propelled?
5.d / Some think social forces operate irregardless of actors awareness / Believe explanation need not include all steps in a casual chain etc may reject phenomenal approach.
5.e / For explanation – more fruitful, thorough investigation of processes by which foreign policies are made. / Replace mere correlation with more significant causation
5.f
6 / Prediction has similar degree of promise
6.a / Policy maker will prefer predictions related how a country is likely to react related contemplated move by own country / The Nation State level will be better
6.b / Scholar migh prefer generalized regarding behavior of class of nations or those regarding system itself. / The System Level will be better
7. / Choice between System level and nation State level is primary conception issue / Must be temporally resolved prior to any research – Cannot afford to shift orientation in the midst of study
8. / Difference between International relations and comparative foreign policy

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