April 1 Special: Spring is Here!

The Joint Geeks of Staff

If you’re interested in going deeper into the theories we mentioned on the show, check out our works cited page:

The origins of realist theory can be found in the works of Thucydides, but you don’t have to read The Peloponnesian War to get a grasp on the basics of the topic. For defensive realism, a good starting place is: Kenneth N. Waltz, “The Origins of War in Neorealist Theory,” Journal of Interdisciplinary History, Vol. 18, No. 4 (Spring 1988). 615-628. Link here: http://www.columbia.edu/itc/sipa/S6800/courseworks/OriginsOfWar.pdf

Offense-Defense theory is found here: Sean M. Lynn-Jones, “Offense-Defense Theory and its Critics,” Security Studies, Vol. 4. No. 4 (1995). 660-691. Link here: https://pages.ucsd.edu/~bslantchev/courses/pdf/Lynn-Jones%20-%20Offense-Defense%20Theory%20and%20Its%20Critics.pdf

For offensive realism, the foundational text is intimidating in size, but very well-written and a quick read. Check out: John J. Mearsheimer, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, Updated Edition (New York, NY: Norton, 2014). https://www.amazon.com/Tragedy-Great-Power-Politics-Updated/dp/0393349276

Liberalism as an international relations framework was first articulated by Immanuel Kant, but as with Thucydides, you don’t need to read his work to understand the basic tenets of liberalism. Instead, go to: Michael W. Doyle, “Kant, Liberal Legacies, and Foreign Affairs,” Philosophy and Public Affairs, Vol. 12, No. 3 (Summer 1983). 205-235. Link here: https://canvas.uw.edu/files/49769298/download?download_frd=1 (This article comes in 2 parts. The second part is more difficult to find without access to JSTOR or another database, but there are summaries available.)

For a deeper dive, see: G. John Ikenberry, After Victory: Institutions, Strategic Restraint, and the Rebuilding of Order after Major Wars (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2001). Link: https://www.amazon.com/After-Victory-Institutions-Strategic-Rebuilding/dp/0691050910

The constructivist school offers some powerful explanatory tools to the study of international relations. Its breakthrough article is: Alexander Wendt, “Anarchy is What States Make of It: The Social Construction of Power Politics,” International Organization, Vol. 46, No. 2 (Spring 1992). 391-425. Link here: https://courses.helsinki.fi/sites/default/files/course-material/4594742/Wendt.pdf

The Joint Geeks on this episode are Matthew Ader (@AderMatthew), Ian Boley (@IBBoley), and Clara Engle Boley. Check out the podcast Twitter @thejointgeeks, and go to our parent organization @anavycon for the NavyCon 2021 call for papers!

Intro and outro music composed and performed by Greg Mutersbaugh.