Containment and Engagement as Middle-Range Theories

Jakštaitė, Gerda

doi:10.2478/v10076-010-0015-7

Abstract

In the studies of international relations containment and engagement are often understood as strategies of foreign policy. This article seeks to explore containment and engagement through a less frequently applied theoretical perspective: to find out what features of containment and engagement allow them to be called middle-range theories.

The article presents the main features of meta- and middle-range theories, draws attention to realism as meta-theory and then distinguishes the most characteristic features of containment and engagement in order to find their matches in the attributes of middle-range theories.

The article concludes that containment and engagement can be called middle-range theories, since they are power balancing theories that analyze the phenomenon from a specific point of view (individual approaches to the instruments, regions, targets), they are comprehensive, and they stay within the field of power balancing analysis.

References

Cha, Victor. "Engaging North Korea Credibly." Survival 42, 2 (Summer 2000): 137.10.1093/survival/42.2.136
Search in Google Scholar
Cha, Victor. "Hawk Engagement and Preventive Defense on the Korean Peninsula." International Security 27(1) (2002): 40-78.10.1162/016228802320231226
Search in Google Scholar
Chernoff, David F. Theory and Methatheory in International Relations. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.
Search in Google Scholar
Clifford, Clark. "American Relations with the Soviet Union." Report as of September 24, 1946. Subject File. Conway Files. Truman Papers // http://www.trumanlibrary.org/4-1.pdf
Search in Google Scholar
Davis, James W. Threats and Promises: The Pursuit of International Influence. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2000.
Search in Google Scholar
Dougherty, James E., and Robert L. Pfaltzgraf. Contending Theories of International Relations. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1971.
Search in Google Scholar
Encarta World English Dictionary. "International Relations." // http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861692562/international_relations.html
Search in Google Scholar
Encyclopædia Britannica. "Metatheory." (2009) // http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/378037/metatheory
Search in Google Scholar
Gaddis, John L. Strategies of Containment. Oxford University Press, 1982.
Search in Google Scholar
Goldstein, Joshua S. International Relations. Pearson Longman, 2005.
Search in Google Scholar
Griffiths, Martin. International Relations Theory for the Twenty-First Century: an Introduction. New York: Routledge, 2007.10.4324/9780203939031
Search in Google Scholar
Haass, Richard N., and Meghan L. O'Sullivan. "Engaging Problem Countries." Policy Brief No. 61 (June 2000) // http://www.brookings.edu/comm/policybriefs/pb61.pdf
Search in Google Scholar
Haass, Richard N., and Meghan L. O'Sullivan. Honey and Vinegar: Incentives, Sanctions, and Foreign Policy. Washington: Brookings, 2000.
Search in Google Scholar
Jones, Joseph M. The Fifteen Weeks (February 21-June 5, 1947). New York: Viking Press, 1955).
Search in Google Scholar
Kahler, Miles, and Scott Kastner. "Strategic Uses of Economic Interdependence: Engagement Policies on the Korean Peninsula and Across the Taiwan Strait." Journal of Peace Research Vol. 43, No. 5. (2006): 523-541.10.1177/0022343306066778
Search in Google Scholar
Kegley, Charles W. Controversies in International Relations Theory. New York: St. Martins Press, 1995.10.5040/9781350392984
Search in Google Scholar
Kennan, George F. Memoirs. Boston: Little, Brown, 1972.
Search in Google Scholar
Kennan, George F. "‘The Long Telegram’ from Moscow." February 22, 1946. The National Security Archive // http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/coldwar/documents/episode-1/kennan.htm
Search in Google Scholar
Kissinger, Henry. Diplomatija (Diplomacy). Vilnius: Pradai, 2003.
Search in Google Scholar
Krieger, Joel. The Oxford Companion to Politics of the World. Oxford University Press, 1993.
Search in Google Scholar
Lebow, Richard N. The Tragic Vision of Politics. Cambridge University Press, 2003.10.1017/CBO9780511491504
Search in Google Scholar
Leffler, Melvyn. A Predominance of Power. National Security, the Truman Administration, and the Cold War. California: Stanford University Press, 1992.10.1515/9781503621930
Search in Google Scholar
Leffler, Melvyn P. "Remembering George Kennan. Lessons for Today?" United States Institute for Peace (December 2006) // http://www.usip.org/files/resources/SRdec06.pdf
Search in Google Scholar
Marshall, Gordon. "Grand Theory." In: A Dictionary of Sociology (1998) // http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-grandtheory.html
Search in Google Scholar
Martin, Curtis. "The Many Faces of Hawk Engagement: A Critical Examination of Victor D. Cha's Strategy for U.S.-DPRK Diplomacy." A Paper Presented at the 48th Annual Convention of the International Studies Association. February 28 - March 3, 2007 // http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/1/7/8/9/3/p178937_index.html
Search in Google Scholar
Maschner, Herbert. "Middle Range Theory." In: The Oxford Companion to Archaeology. Oxford University Press, 1996 // http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t136.e0289
Search in Google Scholar
Matthews, H. F. "Political Estimate of Soviet Policy for Use in Connection with Military Studies; Memorandum as of April 01, 1946." In: Foreign Relations. T. I. United States, 1946.
Search in Google Scholar
McFaul, Michael A. "Realistic Engagement: A New Approach to American-Russian Relations." Current History Vol. 100, No. 648 (October 2001): 313-322.10.1525/curh.2001.100.648.313
Search in Google Scholar
Mingst, Karen. Essentials of international relations. London: W.W. Norton, 2008.
Search in Google Scholar
Morgenthau, Hans. Politics among Nations. New York: Knoff, 1978.
Search in Google Scholar
"National Security Council Paper 68 (NSC-68)." April 1950. In: Valone, Stephen J. Two Centuries of U.S. Foreign Policy. The Documentary Record. Westport: Praeger, 1995.
Search in Google Scholar
Papayoanou, Paul A., and Scott Kastner. "Assesing the Policy of Engagement with China." Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (1998) // http://repositories.cdlib.org/igcc/PP/pp40
Search in Google Scholar
Pinder, Craig C., and Larry F. Moore. Middle Range Theory and the Study of Organizations. United States of America: Springer, 1980.10.1007/978-94-009-8733-3
Search in Google Scholar
Project of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. "Containment" // http://www.nuclearfiles.org/menu/key-issues/nuclear-weapons/history/cold-war/strategy/strategy-containment.htm
Search in Google Scholar
Rappert, Brian. "On the Mid Range: An Exercise in Disposing." Science, technology&Human Values 32 (6): 693-712.10.1177/0162243907303599
Search in Google Scholar
"Russian Report in Clifford to Truman and attached memorandum ‘American Relations with Soviet Union’." September 24, 1946. In: Thomas H. Etzold and John L. Gaddis. Containment: Documents on American Policy and Strategy. 1945-1950. New York: Columbia University Press, 1978.
Search in Google Scholar
Seidman, Steven. Contested Knowledge - Social Theory Today. Wiley-Blackwell, 2004.
Search in Google Scholar
Smith, Steve. Tarptautiniai santykiai: aiškinimas ir supratimas (Explaining and Understanding International Relations). Vilnius: Tyto alba, 1998.
Search in Google Scholar
"Tensions Between the United States and The Soviet Union." Address by the Secretary of State. March 16, 1950. In: American Foreign Policy. Basic Documents, 1950-1955. Vol. II. New York: Arno Press, 1971.
Search in Google Scholar
Torraco, Richard J., and Elwood F. Holton III. "A Theorists Toolbox." Human Resource Development Review 1(March, 2002): 129-140.10.1177/1534484302011007
Search in Google Scholar
"‘Total Diplomacy’ to Strengthen United States Leadership for Human Freedom." Summary of Remarks by the Secretary of State. February 16, 1950. In: American Foreign Policy. Basic Documents, 1950-1955. Vol. I. New York: Arno Press, 1971.
Search in Google Scholar
Vasquez, John. The Power of Power Politics. University of Cambridge, 2004.
Search in Google Scholar
Viotti, Paul R., and Mark V. Kauppi. International Relations Theory. Realism, Pluralism, Globalism and Beyond. Allyn and Bacon, 1997.
Search in Google Scholar
Waever, Ole. "Waltz's Theory of Theory." International Relations Vol. 23, No. 2 (June 2009): 201-222.10.1177/0047117809104635
Search in Google Scholar
Wit, Joel S., Daniel Poneman and Robert L. Gallucci. The First North Korean Nuclear Crisis: Going Critical. Washington, D.C.: Brookings, 2004.
Search in Google Scholar
X (G.F. Kennan). "The Sources of Soviet Conduct." Foreign Affairs (July 1974) // http://www.historyguide.org/europe/kennan.html
Search in Google Scholar
Zhao, Shanyang. "Metatheory, Metamethod, Meta-data-analysis: What, Why and How?" Sociological Perspectives Vol. 34, No. 3 (1991): 377-390.10.2307/1389517
Search in Google Scholar

Containment and Engagement as Middle-Range Theories

Abstract

Paradigm

My account