POL208Y1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, Thought Experiment, World Politics
Document Summary
Scientifically study war in order to ensure war does not happen again (scientific discipline) using history case studies as examples and experiments. E. g. car accident problem proposed by the professor. Most common method consisting of systematic organization of facts. Refer to j. david singer (domestic/international, micro/macro) in reading notes. The choices of levels of analysis depend on factors such as: the questions we ask, the case, our theoretical assumptions and preferences. Levels of analysis are not mutually exclusive (unable to be true at the same time) We need to able to justify our choice (why choose to use this specific level rather than another?) Through a thought experiment (counter factual thinking: imagine alternatives to reality) Soviet union: rival of united states (bi-polar world) Harry s. truman was president at the time the bomb was dropped. Deduction: transition from data to theory requires creative imagination (reasoning from one or more general statements)
