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Subject and system in international interaction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 May 2009

John S. Dryzek
Affiliation:
Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Oregon, Eugene.
Margaret L. Clark
Affiliation:
Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Oregon, Eugene, and Research Associate at the Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State University, Columbus.
Garry McKenzie
Affiliation:
Associate Professor of Geology and Mineralogy and Research Scientist at the Byrd Polar Research Center, Ohio State University, Columbus.
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Abstract

Recent interest in cognitive approaches to international interaction in general and international regimes in particular has not been matched by development in theory and methodology. This article details a systematic “subjective” approach that seeks to meet this need. Its claims are developed through its comparison with the accomplishments and shortcomings of more established approaches to the study of international interaction and, in particular, microeconomic formal theory. The subjective alternative can model both individual subjects and the systems in which they are participating. As such, it offers much more in terms of continuities and connections between agents and system structure than do traditional psychological analyses in international relations. The theoretical arguments proceed in the context of a study of cooperation and conflict over Antarctica and its evolving regimes.

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The IO Foundation 1989

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References

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42. Our number of statements (thirty-four) is on the low side; most Q studies use forty to sixty statements. We decided to use this smaller number to lighten the cognitive burden on our respondents (many of whom were known to have a first language other than English). In order to do justice to the complexity of the Antarctic concourse, we also had to include a larger number of statements containing both factual and evaluative material (“compound” statements) than is standard. For example, our statement number 1 is “Krill is a much more important Antarctic resource issue than is either minerals or hydrocarbons, and therefore one should not be concerned with possible exploitation of these geological resources.” The use of compound questions and statements has long been regarded suspiciously in opinion research, but recent methodological work suggests that if analysts want to investigate complex attitudes, they have to ask complex (compound) questions. See Hunter, Susan and Sabatier, Paul, “Open-Ended Versus Closed-Ended Questions: Double-Barreled Items Are Part of the Solution,” unpublished paper, 1987Google Scholar.

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51. This structure was produced as follows. First, we rotated the second factor of the original centroid solution (we can call this factor F2) against the first factor (Fl) to align with the midpoint of the orientations of two individuals who were employees of environmental organizations active on Antarctic issues. The resulting “environmental” factor (F2') produced high loadings for several other subjects. When we inspected the new factor 1 (F1') produced by this same rotation, it appeared to be defined by a concern with the preservation of the status quo in the Treaty System. This factor (F1') was therefore “purified” by rotating it against the third factor of our original solution (F3) in order to align it more closely with the orientations of two individuals who, given the governmental positions they occupied, would be expected to be strongly disposed to preserving the Treaty System status quo. Our second rotation yielded two new factors: Fl” and F3’. Because F3’ exhibited no significant loadings, it could be discarded, leaving just two factors of note: Fl” and F2’. These last two factors are reported in the tables and text as Fl and F2.

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56. Comparability across individuals requires and assumes that the center category in the Q sort is equally indifferent across all the subjects involved.

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59. Q methodology can in fact be used to distinguish between positions taken freely and positions subtly constrained by external agents. The analyst can act as a kind of critical theorist and administer multiple Q sorts to the same individual under varying conditions, with the intention of revealing to the individual the relation of his or her own positions to positions conducive to the interests of dominant actors.

60. As its name implies, varclus is normally used to cluster variables rather than individuals. But variables in R analysis are like individuals in Q analysis, which is why it can be used here to cluster individuals.

61. The first split produced a correlation of. 65. The lowest correlation produced by the second split was. 53; by the third,. 25; and by the fourth,. 21. This progression constitutes a good statistical reason to stress the results of the third split (which produces four clusters) and to move no further (for doing so produces no substantial decrease in intercluster correlation).

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77. While a truncated Q methodology could be subsumed under microeconomics, it is also the case that Q could claim its own authority over microeconomics. Brown uses Q to test whether an individual is in fact abiding by the maximizing rationality of microeconomics. This is done by administering multiple Q sorts to the same individual under specified conditions (for example, self-interest, conceptions of the public interest, and anger) and determining how each correlates with the individual's expressed disposition to action. Brown concludes that the individual he examines is not an economically rational Downsian voter but, rather, an individual motivated more strongly by impartial (and some emotional) concerns. See Brown, “The Structure and Form of Subjectivity.”

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81. Our reference to Foucault and discourses raises a connection between our approach and the emerging field of discourse analysis in international relations research. Q methodology can be applied readily to discourse analysis. In fact, Q has already been used by a group of British psychologists to deconstruct and problematize taken-for-granted discourses about health, human rights, sexuality, and so forth. The methodology is the same as that we have outlined for the analysis of concourses. See, for example, Rogers, Rex Stainton and Rogers, Wendy Stainton, “Deconstructing Addiction,” paper presented at the annual conference of the Social Psychological Section of the British Psychological Society, 1988Google Scholar.