Description
Book SynopsisMilja Kurki examines the meaning of the concept of cause in international relations. Proposing an approach to causal analysis that emphasizes the importance of multi-causality and accepts the validity of many social science methods, she suggests that reinterpreting the notion of 'causation' opens up avenues for future IR scholarship.
Trade Review'Cause is the central concept of any science, including human sciences. Yet, most IR scholars seem to assume that this is not the case, which explains in part the appalling state of the discipline. To paraphrase Kant, it is time to awaken IR scholars from their 'dogmatic slumber' by shifting the field of background discourse, as Kurki attempts to do here. Her brilliant book will no doubt make a huge contribution to the revival of cumulative research in world politics, peace and conflict studies and related fields.' Heikki Patomäki, University of Helsinki
Table of ContentsIntroduction: the problem of causation and the divided discipline of international relations; Part I. The Humean Philosophy of Causation and its Legacies: 1. The Humean philosophy of causation and its legacies in philosophy of science; 2. Controversy over causes in the social sciences; 3. Humeanism and rationalist causal analysis in international relations; 4. Reflectivist and constructivist approaches in international relations: more cases of Humeanism; Part II. Rethinking the Concept of Cause: 5. Attempts to move beyond Humeanism: strengths and weaknesses; 6. Rethinking causation: towards a deeper and broader concept of cause; Part III. Reconfiguring Causal Analysis of World Politics: 7. Expanding horizons in world political causal inquiry; 8. Reconceptualising causes, reframing the divided discipline.
