Guide to the Scientific Study of International Processes

This edited volume offers students and researchers in international relations a wide-ranging survey of SSIP, the well established analytical approach to IR that employs rigorous methodology. Both strands of SSIP are represented here, one devoted to the collection and analysis of data, the other concerned with developing IR theories using mathematical models. SSIP has traditionally focused on issues related to security and conflict, yet this book reflects recent developments, which include a growing emphasis on civil wars, and models linking domestic and international processes. Separate sections deal with methodology, substantive topics in conflict and cooperation, and lastly, what SSIP has brought to our understanding of IR, as well as likely directions for future research. The book provides readers with valuable insights into the datasets, methodological advances, formal models, and theoretical arguments advanced by the SSIP research community. As the successes enjoyed by the SSIP approach raise its profile in the academic literature, this volume will introduce a new generation of researchers to the many applications of empirical techniques in IR.