New book tackles the international relations theory-practice divide

Bridging the Theory-Practice Divide in International Relations, a new book from Georgetown University Press, discusses the importance of connecting the insights and research of academia to international relations practice and presents a pathway for doing so. Edited by Daniel Maliniak, Assistant Professor of Government and International Relations at William and Mary, Susan Peterson, the Wendy and Emery Reves Professor of Government and International Relations and codirector of the Global Research Institute, both at William & Mary,  Ryan Powers, assistant professor of international affairs at the University of Georgia's School of Public and International Affairs, and Michael Tierney, the George and Mary Hylton Professor of International Relations and codirector of the Global Research Institute, both at William & Mary.

The book includes discussions between 23 academics and policy practitioners on topics that range from trade to nuclear strategy. The table of contents breaks down as follows:

 

1. Explaining the Theory-Practice Divide in International Relations: Uncertainty and Access
Daniel Maliniak, Susan Peterson, Ryan Powers, and Michael J. Tierney

2. Rights and Wrongs: Human Rights at the Intersection of the International Relations Academy and Practice
Amanda Murdie

3. Closing the Influence Gap: How to Get Better Alignment of Scholars and Practitioners on Human Rights
Sarah E. Mendelson

4. The Study and Practice of Global Environmental Politics: Policy Influence through Participation
Jessica F. Green and Thomas Hale

5. The Limits of Scholarly Influence on Global Environmental Policy
Marc A. Levy

6. Mind the Gap? Links between Policy and Academic Research of Foreign Aid
Christina J. Schneider

7. Making Academic Research on Foreign Aid More Policy Relevant
Steven Radelet

8. Trade Policy and Trade Policy Research
Edward D. Mansfield and Jon C. W. Pevehouse

9. Making International Relations Research on Trade More Relevant to Policy Officials
Robert B. Zoellick

10. Is International Relations Relevant for International Money and Finance?
Thomas B. Pepinsky and David A. Steinberg

11. Is International Relations Relevant for International Monetary and Financial Policy?: Reflections of an Economist
Dimitri G. Demekas

12. Lost in Translation: Academics, Policymakers, and Research about Interstate Conflict
Sarah Kreps and Jessica Weeks

13. Reflections from an Erstwhile Policymaker
Peter D. Feaver

14. The Weakest Link? Scholarship and Policy on Intrastate Conflict
Michael G. Findley and Joseph K. Young

15. On the Challenge of Assessing Scholarly Influence on Intrastate Conflict Policy
Scott Edwards

16. The Bumpy Road to a "Science" of Nuclear Strategy
Paul C. Avey and Michael C. Desch

17. Academia's Influence on National Security Policy: What Works and What Doesn't?
John R. Harvey

18. Supply- and Demand-Side Explanations for the Theory-Practice Divide
Daniel Maliniak, Susan Peterson, Ryan Powers, and Michael J. Tierney

To purchase the book or learn more, click here to be directed to the publisher's website.

 

STAY IN THE KNOW

Visit CPD's Online Library

Explore CPD's vast online database featuring the latest books, articles, speeches and information on international organizations dedicated to public diplomacy.