International Relations and Scientific Criteria for Choosing a Theory

Abstract

Chapter 1 looked at U.S. policy options toward Iraq, North Korea, and China and the rationales for them. Chapter 2 laid out today’s major contending theories of IR and showed that, with a particular set of factual beliefs, those who advocate a particular theory are more likely to support some of the policies in these cases and oppose others. Thus, given the set of factual claims, which option policy makers choose depends on which theory they accept. An answer to the question, which policy is most likely to succeed? hinges on the answer to the question, which theory is best? However, before we can determine which theory is best we must answer the question, how do we determine which is the best theory?