BELFER CENTER STUDIES IN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY
August 2007
Reassessing Security Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific: Competition, Congruence, and Transformation
By Amitav Acharya and Evelyn Goh
Since the 1990s, Asia-Pacific countries have changed their approaches to security cooperation and regional order. The end of the Cold War, the resurgence of China, the Asian economic crisis, and the events of September 11, 2001, have all contributed to important changes in the Asia-Pacific security architecture.
August 25, 2007
Worst of the Worst: Dealing with Repressive and Rogue Nations
By Robert Rotberg, Director, Program on Intrastate Conflict and Conflict Resolution
"This volume makes an unparalleled contribution to the growing and vital field of measurement and human rights. [The book] offers a useful categorization and assessment of repressive and 'rogue' states, allowing us to measure the extenet of repressive state behavior more accurately. His [Rotberg] work should embolden external critiques and facilitate more transparent and accountable foreign policy."
--Sarah Sewall, Director, Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Harvard University
October, 2005
Bare Branches: The Security Implications of Asia's Surplus Male Population
By Valerie M. Hudson and Andrea Den Boer
What happens to a society that has too many men? In this provocative book, Valerie Hudson and Andrea den Boer argue that, historically, high male-to-female ratios often trigger domestic and international violence. Most violent crime is committed by young unmarried males who lack stable social bonds. Although there is not always a direct cause-and-effect relationship, these surplus men often play a crucial role in making violence prevalent within society.
August 2005
Electing to Fight: Why Emerging Democracies Go to War
By Edward D. Mansfield and Jack Snyder
Does the spread of democracy really contribute to international peace? Successive U. S. administrations have justified various policies intended to promote democracy not only by arguing that democracy is intrinsically good but by pointing to a wide range of research concluding that democracies rarely, if ever, go to war with one another.
February, 2005
Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences
By Alexander L. George and Andrew Bennett, Former Research Fellow, International Security Program, 1987-1989
The use of case studies to build and test theories in political science and the other social sciences has increased in recent years. Many scholars have argued that the social sciences rely too heavily on quantitative research and formal models and have attempted to develop and refine rigorous methods for using case studies. This text presents a comprehensive analysis of research methods using case studies and examines the place of case studies in social science methodology.
April, 2004
Filling the Ranks: Transforming the U.S. Military Personnel System
The war in Iraq and the problematic military occupation of that country have called into question the adequacy of America's all-volunteer force. Politicians and others have expressed doubts about its equity and capability; some have called for the reinstatement of the draft. Yet over the past twenty years the all-volunteer military has become a technologically advanced force that has contributed to America's overall military advantage. This book analyzes current military pay and personnel policies and identifies changes needed to maintain and improve America's all-volunteer force.
January 2004
The Future of Turkish Foreign Policy
By Lenore G. Martin and Dimitris Keridis
Since the end of the Cold War, Turkey has moved from the periphery to occupy the very center of Eurasian security. It is a critical participant in NATO and aspires to become a member of the European Union. The pivotal role that Turkey plays in Southeastern Europe, the Middle East, and the Caucasus has profound implications for the international arena and spawns vital debates over the directions of Turkish foreign policy.
January, 2004
Track-II Diplomacy: Lessons from the Middle East
By Shai Feldman, Member of the Board, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Ahmad Khalidi, Zeev Schiff and Hussein Agha
Track-II talks in the Middle East -- unofficial discussions among Israeli and Arab scholars, journalists, and former government and military officials -- have been going on since soon after the 1967 Six Day War and have often paved the way for official negotiations. This book, a unique collaboration of Israeli and Palestinian authors, traces the history of these unofficial meetings, focusing on those that took place in the 1990s beginning just after the Gulf War.
September 2003
Fighting Words: Language Policy and Ethnic Relations in Asia
By Michael Brown, Former co-editor, Quarterly Journal International Security and Sumit Ganguly
Language policy is a sensitive issue in most countries. In countries where more than one language is spoken—the vast majority of countries—language policies affect the ability of individuals and groups to participate in government, to be treated fairly by governmental agencies, to have access to government services, to take advantage of educational opportunities, and to pursue economic success.
September 2003
First to Arrive: State and Local Responses to Terrorism
By Robyn Pangi, Former Research Specialist, Executive Session on Domestic Preparedness, International Security Program and Juliette Kayyem, Member of the Board (on leave), Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Since September 11, 2001, the United States has been preoccupied by the federal role in preparedness against terror attacks and by ways to provide a quick fix through organizational overhauls. First to Arrive argues that the best way for America to prepare for terrorism is to listen to people in the field; those working on the ground can guide decisions at the top.
