Explaining conflict and cooperation: tools and techniques of the trade - Paradigms and theories

6 important questions on Explaining conflict and cooperation: tools and techniques of the trade - Paradigms and theories

What is a hypothesis?

A statement about what we should expect to observe in the world if our theories were true

What is a paradigm?

Is a systematic statement of the basis assumptions, concepts, and propositions employed by a school of analysis.
- They have a notational function (keeping concepts in order)
- Can be thought of as the foundations of which structures of knowledge (theories) are build on
- They are abandoned from time to time

What are the four dominant paradigms in the study of politics?

1. Realism
2. Liberalism
3. Marxism
4. Constructivism
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What is the difference between classical realists and structural Neo-realists?

Classical realists have a more humanistic approach while neorealist are concerned with generating purely systemic theories

What is the difference between defensive and offensive realists?

Defensive realists tend to stress security as the dominant state goal, where offensive realists tend to stress power

Marxism suffers from three weaknesses, that are:

It attempted to reduce politics to economics, it erred in conceiving of the state as a simple tool of a particular class and it had an overly rigid understanding of the progress of history (underestimated choice in the switch to communism)

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