Joshua R. Itzkowitz Shifrinson – författare

As a rising great power flexes its muscles on the political-military scene it must examine how to manage its relationships with states suffering from decline; and it has to do so in a careful and strategic manner. In Rising Titans, Falling Giants Joshua R. Itzkowitz Shifrinson focuses on the policies that rising states adopt toward their declining competitors in response to declining states' policies, and what that means for the relationship between the two.Rising Titans, Falling Giants integrates disparate approaches to realism into a single theoretical framework, provides new insight into the sources of cooperation and competition in international relations, and offers a new empirical treatment of great power politics at the start and end of the Cold War. Shifrinson challenges the existing historical interpretations of diplomatic history, particularly in terms of the United States-China relationship. Whereas many analysts argue that these two nations are on a collision course, Shifrinson declares instead that rising states often avoid antagonizing those in decline, and highlights episodes that suggest the US-China relationship may prove to be far less conflict-prone than we might expect.

As a rising great power flexes its muscles on the political-military scene it must examine how to manage its relationships with states suffering from decline; and it has to do so in a careful and strategic manner. In Rising Titans, Falling Giants Joshua R. Itzkowitz Shifrinson focuses on the policies that rising states adopt toward their declining competitors in response to declining states' policies, and what that means for the relationship between the two.Rising Titans, Falling Giants integrates disparate approaches to realism into a single theoretical framework, provides new insight into the sources of cooperation and competition in international relations, and offers a new empirical treatment of great power politics at the start and end of the Cold War. Shifrinson challenges the existing historical interpretations of diplomatic history, particularly in terms of the United States-China relationship. Whereas many analysts argue that these two nations are on a collision course, Shifrinson declares instead that rising states often avoid antagonizing those in decline, and highlights episodes that suggest the US-China relationship may prove to be far less conflict-prone than we might expect.

Archival Research for International Relations is an indispensable guide to why archival sources can be invaluable for IR scholarship and how to use archives effectively. More IR students and scholars than ever are turning to archives to strengthen their research. But for those venturing in for the first time, archives can be intimidating – and with good reason. Despite mounting interest, archival training for IR researchers is limited. This gap leaves researchers not only uncertain about how archives contribute to scholarship, but also how to work with and make the most of them.Joshua R. Itzkowitz Shifrinson bridges this gap by unpacking archival research from the ground up. Drawing on over two decades of working with archival sources, he first explains how using archival sources can uniquely sharpen theoretical and empirical arguments compared to other data sources. Next, he examines types of archival evidence, what each brings to research projects, and how to navigate methodological concerns – such as bias – when using archival records. Finally, he offers practical strategies for making the most of archive visits, from prioritizing materials to integrating findings into projects.Comprehensive and practical, Archival Research for International Relations provides the roadmap IR researchers need to unlock the archives.

Archival Research for International Relations is an indispensable guide to why archival sources can be invaluable for IR scholarship and how to use archives effectively. More IR students and scholars than ever are turning to archives to strengthen their research. But for those venturing in for the first time, archives can be intimidating – and with good reason. Despite mounting interest, archival training for IR researchers is limited. This gap leaves researchers not only uncertain about how archives contribute to scholarship, but also how to work with and make the most of them.Joshua R. Itzkowitz Shifrinson bridges this gap by unpacking archival research from the ground up. Drawing on over two decades of working with archival sources, he first explains how using archival sources can uniquely sharpen theoretical and empirical arguments compared to other data sources. Next, he examines types of archival evidence, what each brings to research projects, and how to navigate methodological concerns—such as bias—when using archival records. Finally, he offers practical strategies for making the most of archive visits, from prioritizing materials to integrating findings into projects.Comprehensive and practical, Archival Research for International Relations provides the roadmap IR researchers need to unlock the archives.

Particular attention is given to NATO enlargement’s influence on the course of U.S. foreign policy, democracy and security in Central and Eastern Europe, NATO’s own development as a political and military institution, and relations with China and Russia (including the 2022 Russia-Ukraine War).