J. David Singer

Professor J. David Singer has been arguably the most important influence on quantitative research into the causes and attributes of war. His pioneering work on the Correlates of War project at the University of Michigan and his numerous books and articles have inspired generations of researchers in the fields of international relations, conflict analysis, security studies and peace science. This collection is a carefully selected overview of his work which provides not only an excellent introduction to his considerable methodological, theoretical and empirical contributions but also an intellectual history of developments in the field of international relations which are reflected in Professor Singer's work. This is essential reading for all those with an interest in the use of quantitative methods in social science, the changing nature of the study of international relations and the analysis of war and peace.

Professor J. David Singer has been arguably the most important influence on quantitative research into the causes and attributes of war. His pioneering work on the Correlates of War project at the University of Michigan and his numerous books and articles have inspired generations of researchers in the fields of international relations, conflict analysis, security studies and peace science. This collection is a carefully selected overview of his work which provides not only an excellent introduction to his considerable methodological, theoretical and empirical contributions but also an intellectual history of developments in the field of international relations which are reflected in Professor Singer's work. This is essential reading for all those with an interest in the use of quantitative methods in social science, the changing nature of the study of international relations and the analysis of war and peace.

Nations at War provides an explanation of war in international politics grounded on data-based, empirical research. The book classifies and synthesizes the research findings of over 500 quantitative analyses of war at the analytic level of the state, dyad, region, and international system. Because wars follow from political decisions, two basic decision-making models - the rational and the non-rational - are examined in relation to the explanatory framework of the volume. In addition, case analyses of two wars - the Iran/Iraq War (1980), and World War I (1914) - are provided as demonstrations of scientifically-based explanations of historical events. The primary structural factors responsible for the onset and seriousness of war are identified and the explanations are developed according to the scientific model of 'covering laws'. The conclusion presents a discussion of the potential for probabilistic conditional predictions of conflict within the context of war and peace studies.

Nations at War provides an explanation of war in international politics grounded on data-based, empirical research. The book classifies and synthesizes the research findings of over 500 quantitative analyses of war at the analytic level of the state, dyad, region, and international system. Because wars follow from political decisions, two basic decision-making models - the rational and the non-rational - are examined in relation to the explanatory framework of the volume. In addition, case analyses of two wars - the Iran/Iraq War (1980), and World War I (1914) - are provided as demonstrations of scientifically-based explanations of historical events. The primary structural factors responsible for the onset and seriousness of war are identified and the explanations are developed according to the scientific model of ‘covering laws’. The conclusion presents a discussion of the potential for probabilistic conditional predictions of conflict within the context of war and peace studies.

This research guide provides a comprehensive summary of all quantitative research in the World Politics field published in scholarly journals between 1970 and 1991. Each such article is summarized in terms of the central query or hypotheses, the spatial-temporal domain, the measurement of the predictor and outcome variables, the data analysis, and the findings. Article summaries are arranged alphabetically by first author. This guide contains three extensive indexes. The first references articles according to the topic(s) covered; the second according to the states, dyads, and other entities used as units-of-analyses in the study; the third according to the authors of the research. Graduate students, scholars, and practitioners will find this book an invaluable overview of the quantitative research that has been conducted on World Politics over the past two decades.

This is one those rare prefaces in which the author need not attempt to justify, or apologize for, the addition of another book to an already over­ burdened field. There is certainly no plethora of serious studies on inter­ national organization in general, and almost none dealing with the administrative aspects of such organization. More precisely, the author is not aware of a single comprehensive treatment of the finances of any international political organization, past or present. Over the years, many former Secretariat members of the League, the United Nations, and their affiliated agencies have come forth with either memoirs or general commentaries on their organizations. And frequently these works have included revealing, but brief, passages dealing with budg­ etary questions, yet none has dealt with these questions in any detailed or thorough fashion. It is unfortunate that this is so. Not that the fate of the world rides on the United Nations budget, or that matters of peace and war will be determined by the dollars and cents of the Secretary-General's estimates. Yet questions of real importance to many of the world's citizens are decided in the budgetary struggle. Until the policy decisions of the various organs are translated into budget items, there is no visiting mission to encourageTogoland's movement toward eventual self-govern­ ment, no cease-fire observer in the Middle East, no rehabilitation com­ mission in South Korea, and no public administration advisor in San­ tiago.