Models, Numbers, and Cases: Methods for Studying International Relations

by Detlef F. Sprinz, Yael Wolinsky-Nahmias

Scholars and students of international relations must contend with increasingly sophisticated methods for studying world politics. Models, Numbers, and Cases is a comprehensive assessment of the three main approaches to international case study, quantitative methods, and formal methods. Clearly written chapters explain the most important methodological and theoretical issues in the field, and demonstrate the practical application of these methods to international political economy, environmental policy, and security. Models, Numbers, and Cases is a concise and valuable guide to the challenging terrain of contemporary international relations study. Detlef Sprinz is a Senior Fellow at the Department of Global Change and Social Systems of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and teaches on the Faculty of Social Science at the University of Potsdam, Germany. Yael Wolinsky-Nahmias is Senior Lecturer and Associate Chair in the Department of Political Science at Northwestern University.

Genres: International Relations, Political Science

424 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2004

Reviews

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good supplementary text for use in a political science methodology course (the dreaded required math class) for graduate students. It is a good survey of methods. It covers qualitative case study research, large-n quantitative studies, and game theory.