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Levels of Analysis
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Three Models
(Graham Allison)
Model I:
Model II:
Classical Rational Actor
Model (RAM)
Organizational Process or
Behavior Model
Realism & Neorealism:
Morgenthau, Schelling,
Kennan, Waltz, Kissinger, etc.
Liberalism & Neorealism:
Keohane, Doyle
e.g. President Obama vs.
Republicans in both Houses
of Confress
Not ”act” or “choices” but
OUTPUTS of organizational SOPs
Competition among decision
making units; no single strategic
master plan; diverse conceptions
of nat’l, org’nal & personal goals
Unitary states as key players who
act rationally, calculating costs &
benefits of policy choices to
maximize utility
Model III: Bureaucratic or
Governmental Politics
Model
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Three Levels of Analysis
(Martin Griffiths & Terry O’Callaghan)
International
Political System
Domestic Politics
Individuals Acting
& Interacting
e.g. Realism & Neorealism:
Morgenthau, Schelling,
Kennan, Waltz, Kissinger, etc.
States are nominal actors but
national behavior is
determined by…
e.g. Gorbachev & Reagan
Balance of power in an anarchical
structure of the system
Action & interaction of
bureaucracies, legislatures,
political parties, business & union
lobbies, & other advocacy groups
Choices, actions, & interactions of
powerful individuals
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(John T. Rourke)
Levels of Analysis
1
Individual
Individual, group, or
as a species
2
State
Countries are the key
actors
3
System
Top-down view of the
structure & pattern
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Levels of Analysis
(Karen Mingst)
Individual
Personality,
perceptions, activities,
choices
State
Government, economy,
interest groups,
national interest
International
International norms/
rules, TNCs,
Intergovernmental
organizations, alliances
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Levels of Analysis
(Joshua Goldstein)
1
2
3
4
Individual
Domestic
Interstate
Global
Great/ crazy leaders, decision
making, perception, learning,
assassinations, accidents of
history, citizens’ participation
(vote, rebel, go to war)
Nationalism, ethnic conflict,
type of gov’t, democracy,
dictatorship, domestic
coalitions, pol parties &
elections, public opinion,
gender, econ sectors &
industries, foreign policy
bureaucracies
Power, balance of power,
alliance, wars, treaties, trade
agreements, IGOs, diplomacy,
summit meetings, bargaining,
reciprocity
N-S gap, world regions,
European imperialism, UN,
world environment, tech.
change, info revo, global
telecom, worldwide scientific &
business communities
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Levels of
Analysis
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of the Literature
Global or
System
Interstate
State
StateSociety
Organization
Bureaucratic
Politics
Individual
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Levels of
Analysis
Rey Ty’s Synthesis
of the Literature
7
1
Global or System
Individual
6
2
Interstate &
international
society
Bureaucratic
Politics
3
5
Organization
State
4
State-Society
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Levels of Analysis
Rey Ty’s Synthesis of the Literature
Individual
Domestic
State
International
Global
System
Psychology,
Choices, Action, &
Interaction
State
(Organization,
Bureaucracies) &
Civil Society
interaction within
a country
Foreign policy:
“The United States
supports x and
condemns y.”
Between or among
countries, TNCs,
civil society, &
individuals
Global climate
change, economic
globalization
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Levels of
Analysis
Individual
Domestic
Governmental
Organization
Domestic
Bureaucratic
Politics
Domestic
Civil Society
(Non-State
Actors)
State
Perceptions,
Policies, &
Actions
Interstate
or
International
International
Civil Society
Organizations
Global or
System
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of the Literature
International
Relations
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
References
Graham T. Allison & Philip Zelikow. (1999). Essence of
Decision: Explaining the Cuban Missile Crisis. New York:
Longman.
Joshua S. Goldstein. (Latest edition). International
Relations. New York: Longman.
Martin Griffiths & Terry O’Callaghan. (2003).
International Relations: The Key Concepts. London &
NY: Routledge.
Karen A. Mingst. (Latest edition). Essentials of
International Relations. New York & London: W. W.
Norton & Company.
John T. Rourke. (Latest ed.). International Politics on the
World Stage. McGraw-Hill/Dushkin.
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Levels of Analysis
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