Realist theories in search of realists: The failure in Europe to advance realist theory

2020 ◽  
pp. 004711782094035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Knud Erik Jørgensen ◽  
F. Asli Ergul Jorgensen
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Security Dilemma ◽  
Realist Theory ◽  
Problematic Relationship ◽  
Dominant Orientation ◽  
Theoretical Innovation ◽  
Strong Position

The realist theoretical tradition has never enjoyed a strong position in Europe. During recent decades, although it is commonly claimed otherwise, it even seems to have lost its limited traction and most of its relatively few representatives. The aim of the article is to analyse this evolution, highlight how realist theorists have contributed limited conceptual or theoretical innovation, been unable to adjust their research agenda to current analytical challenges, and produced relatively few comprehensive empirical studies informed by one or more realist theories. Instead, we observe three main activities. Some realists do meta-studies on realist theory. Others do retrospectives, for instance, (re-)discovering the qualities of classical realist scholars or classical concepts such as the security dilemma. Still others practice ideology that may enjoy certain functions in legitimising national foreign policy orientations but has limited theoretical quality. Thus, textbooks are probably the only remaining context in which realism is presented as constituting a dominant orientation; a fact that highlights the complex and problematic relationship between reality and representation.

scholarly journals CONCEPTUAL REVIEW OF LEADERSHIP ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1044-1095
Author(s):  
Can ERERDİ ◽  
Esra ÜNLÜASLAN DURGUN
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Performance ◽  
Leadership Style ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Leadership Characteristics ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Comprehensive Model ◽  
Future Research Agenda ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
And Performance

In the last few years, due to the surge in the attention towards leadership and the lack of a review mapping the effects of leadership on organizational performance, we believe its coherent to provide a clear review on leadership and how it affects organizational performance. This paper aims to review empirical studies on leadership and organizational performance with the aim of constructing a comprehensive model to conceptualize existing literature. The authors reviewed main journals with impact factor of over 2 and all Leadership titled SSCI journals. As a result, 687 studies published between 1957 and 2017 were analyzed, out of which 486 met the criteria of being empirical studies on leadership and performance. Out of the 486, 20 articles used Organizational Performance as their dependent variable, thus were included in our model. In doing so, the authors aim to extend the field in three ways: First, based on their review, the authors mapped a comprehensive model of the effects of leadership style and leadership characteristics through moderators and organizational mediators on organizational performance. Second, the authors, through vigorous examination, display and evaluate existing variables and measures on leadership and organizational performance within the literature. Finally, the authors aim to contribute to the field by presenting a detailed future research agenda and practical considerations for managerial implications.

1. The history and evolution of foreign policy analysis

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie M. Hudson
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Policy Analysis ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
International Politics ◽  
Classical Period ◽  
Foreign Policy Analysis ◽  
The 1950S ◽  
Large Groups

This chapter traces the history and evolution of foreign policy analysis (FPA) as a subfield of international relations (IR) from its beginnings in the 1950s through its classical period until 1993. It begins with a discussion of three paradigmatic works that laid the foundation of FPA: Decision Making as an Approach to the Study of International Politics (1954), by Richard C. Snyder, H. W. Bruck, and Burton Sapin; ‘Pre-theories and Theories of Foreign Policy’ (1966), by James N. Rosenau; and Man–Milieu Relationship Hypotheses in the Context of International Politics (1956), by Harold and Margaret Sprout. These three works created three main threads of research in FPA: focusing on the decision making of small/large groups, comparative foreign policy, and psychological/sociological explanations of foreign policy. The chapter also reviews classic FPA scholarship during the period 1954–1993 and concludes with an assessment of contemporary FPA’s research agenda.

Science and Sovietology: Bridging the Methods Gap in Soviet Foreign Policy Studies

1988 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack Snyder
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Political Science ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Security Policy ◽  
Policy Studies ◽  
Area Studies ◽  
Soviet Foreign Policy ◽  
Domestic Sources ◽  
Science Departments

Specialists in the study of Soviet foreign policy increasingly feel torn between the positivist culture of political science departments and the holistic traditions of the Soviet area-studies programs. In fact, these approaches are largely complementary. Examples taken from literature on Soviet security policy and on the domestic sources of Soviet expansionism show how positivist theories and methods can be used to clarify holist (or traditionalist) arguments, to sharpen debates, to suggest more telling tests, and to invigorate the field's research agenda.

The role of intraindividual cognitive variability in posttraumatic stress syndromes and cognitive aging: a literature search and proposed research agenda

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Lauren A. Rutter ◽  
Ipsit V. Vahia ◽  
Eliza Passell ◽  
Brent P. Forester ◽  
Laura Germine
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Cognitive Aging ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Psychiatric Symptoms ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Severe Trauma ◽  
Dementia Risk ◽  
Cognitive Variability ◽  
Intraindividual Cognitive Variability

Abstract Objectives: Cognitive impairments are directly related to severity of symptoms and are a primary cause for functional impairment. Intraindividual cognitive variability likely plays a role in both risk and resiliency from symptoms. In fact, such cognitive variability may be an earlier marker of cognitive decline and emergent psychiatric symptoms than traditional psychiatric or behavioral symptoms. Here, our objectives were to survey the literature linking intraindividual cognitive variability, trauma, and dementia and to suggest a potential research agenda. Design: A wide body of literature suggests that exposure to major stressors is associated with poorer cognitive performance, with intraindividual cognitive variability in particular linked to the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the aftermath of severe trauma. Measurements: In this narrative review, we survey the empirical studies to date that evaluate the connection between intraindividual cognitive variability, PTSD, and pathological aging including dementia. Results: The literature suggests that reaction time (RT) variability within an individual may predict future cognitive impairment, including premature cognitive aging, and is significantly associated with PTSD symptoms. Conclusions: Based on our findings, we argue that intraindividual RT variability may serve as a common pathological indicator for trauma-related dementia risk and should be investigated in future studies.

The Partially Clothed Emperor: Evidence-Based Practices

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faye S. Taxman
Keyword(s):  
Work Environment ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Change Strategies ◽  
Evidence Based Practices ◽  
Core Set ◽  
Criminogenic Needs ◽  
Operational Issues

The evidence-based practices literature has defined a core set of practices and treatments that are effective, at least in empirical studies. Implementing these evidence-based practices and treatments requires a different set of empirical studies to understand the operational issues that affects client-driven outcomes. In this article, we review the following three areas: (a) use of a standardized risk and need assessment tool, (b) use of cognitive-behavioral programs to address criminogenic needs, and (c) use of swift and certain responses to shape behavior. The review focuses on the unanswered questions regarding implementation and organizational change strategies to increase receptivity for the evidence-based practices, lay the foundation for improving effectiveness of “evidence-based practices and treatments,” and provide a work environment that supports evidence-based practices and treatments. This article outlines a research agenda to build implementation knowledge that can further the use of evidence-based practices and treatments.

African Foreign Policies

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
John James Quinn
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Policy ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Intergovernmental Organizations ◽  
Weak States ◽  
Political Autonomy ◽  
The World Bank ◽  
Multilateral Institutions ◽  
Foreign Policies ◽  
Cross National

Studies on African foreign policies, and the process involved with their formation, have received much less attention compared to other aspects of African studies. Most have been in-depth case studies illustrating how foreign policy decisions are centered on common concerns for the region, such as decolonization, nation building, economic and political autonomy, and Cold War competition. As such, most diplomacy is conducted with close neighbors, former colonial powers, or the super powers. Much is also conducted within intergovernmental organizations (IGOs). Interactions with multilateral institutions—the World Bank and IMF—also feature prominently. Most analyses indicate that foreign policy has been in the hands of a president, who has conducted it primarily as a means of consolidating or maintaining domestic rule. African foreign policies also tend to reflect the reality that most are small and weak states. A strand of empirical comparative foreign policy literature on Africa does exist, examining things such as UN voting or level of diplomatic activity. Finally, much literature on African foreign policies is embedded in African international relations and focuses on the choices of leaders within larger historic, material, ideological, and international contexts. Most scholars, but not all, eschew an analysis using a single paradigm: eclectic, historical approaches seem to be more common than either cross-national empirical studies or paradigmatically pristine approaches. With this in mind, African foreign policies must respond to, and evolve with, changing international and regional contexts, especially any with significant shifts in geopolitical power.

scholarly journals Global learning: Educational research in an emerging field

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-13
Author(s):  
Annette Scheunpflug
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Educational Research ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
World Society ◽  
Social Solidarity ◽  
Global Learning ◽  
Wide Range

Global learning may be understood as an educational response to the development towards a world society. The development of world society is accompanied by a wide range of adaptation challenges, such as the development of global social justice, the overcoming of paternalism or the facilitation of social solidarity and dealing with migration in an era of climate change. This paper reflects the learning of the understanding of world society by empirical studies. The paper shows some challenges for the research agenda, especially concerning the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s framework of global competences and suggests a framework for further research.

Nuclear learning and U.S.–Soviet security regimes

1987 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 371-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph S. Nye
Keyword(s):  
International Relations ◽  
Research Agenda ◽  
International Political Economy ◽  
Arms Race ◽  
Liberal Theory ◽  
Control Problems ◽  
Realist Theory ◽  
Force Structure ◽  
Security Relationship ◽  
The U.S

The concepts of regimes and learning have been developed in the Liberal theory of international relations, but their application has been mostly in the area of international political economy. U.S.–Soviet relations are generally explained solely in terms of Realist theory. The dichotomy is unfortunate because both strands of theory have something to contribute. Although the injunctions of an overall regime do not govern the U.S.–Soviet security relationship, it is possible to identify the injunctions and constraining effects of regimes in subissues of the security relationship. In five areas of the nuclear relationship (destructive power, control problems, proliferation, arms race stability, and deterrent force structure), it is possible to identify different degrees of learning and to see how such learning affects and is affected by the development of regimes. Looking at the U.S.–Soviet security relationship in terms of learning and regimes raises new questions and opens a research agenda which helps us to think more broadly about the processes of political change in this area.

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