Levels of analysis

Definition

Levels of analysis in International Relations provide a framework for examining and understanding conflicts by categorizing different perspectives and factors into distinct layers, such as individual, state, and international levels. This approach helps scholars and policymakers dissect complex issues by focusing on different scales of interaction and influence.

Related terms

Realism: A theory in International Relations that emphasizes competition for power among states and views the international system as anarchic.

Liberalism: A perspective in International Relations focusing on cooperation among states and non-state actors through international institutions and agreements to achieve mutual gains.

Social constructivism: An approach in International Relations that examines how social interactions, identities, norms, and ideas shape state behavior and the international system