Bridges and Boundaries

Bridges and Boundaries offers a conversation between what might loosely
be described as traditionalist diplomatic and military historians, and political
scientists who employ qualitative case study methods to examine international
relations. The book opens with a series of chapters discussing differences,
commonalities, and opportunities for cross-fertilization between the two
disciplines.To help focus the dialogue on real events and research, the volume then
revisits three empirical topics that have been studied at length by members of both
disciplines: British hegemony in the nineteenth century; diplomacy in the interwar
period and the causes of World War II; and the origins and course of the Cold War.
For each of these subjects, a political scientist, a historian, and a commentator
reflect on how disciplinary "guild rules" have shaped the study of international
events. The book closes with incisive overviews by Robert Jervis and Paul W.
Schroeder.Bridges and Boundaries explores how historians and political scientists
can learn from one another and illustrates the possibilities that arise when
open-minded scholars from different disciplines sit down to talk.