AuthorBryen, Stephen David. author
TitleThe Application of Cybernetic Analysis to the Study of International Politics [electronic resource] / by Stephen David Bryen
ImprintDordrecht : Springer Netherlands, 1971
Connect tohttp://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-3005-2
Descript 147 p. online resource

SUMMARY

This study could not have been written before Professor Karl Deutsch made his great contribution to political science in his book, The Nerves of Governยญ ment. In applying the concepts elaborated in that work to the study of interยญ national politics it has been necessary to interpret and, occasionally, add to the concepts developed by Professor Deutsch. I do not know whether Deutsch would accept these changes, modifications and interpretations. Here I can only say that I have attempted to stay in the same spirit that I think motivated Professor Deutsch's pioneering study. That spirit is expressed throughout his work. It is that "all studies of politics, and all techniques and models suggested as instrument of political analysis, have this purpose: that men should be more able to act in politics with their eyes open. " In completing this work lowe much to many. Mrs. Susan Schellenberg aided me in identifying sections of an earlier draft that were unclear and helped me test some of the ideas I added to Deutsch's work. Mr. Frederick Slutsky did some preliminary testing of the action system formulations emยญ ployed in the third chapter by using quantitative methods. Particular gratitude is due to the committee who saw this manuscript as a dissertation at Tulane University. This committee, led by Professor Henry L. Mason, consisted of Professor Warren Roberts, Jr. ; Professor James D. Cochrane; Professor Jean M. Danielson and Professor John. S. Gillespie


CONTENT

I: Cybernetic Analysis and Political Study -- Goals of the Study -- Deutschโs Cybernetic-systems Approach -- Cybernetic Themes -- Risk, awareness, consciousness -- Deutschโs Approach Applied to Political Study -- Storage, memory, will -- Decision making -- Steering and control -- Action and sustaining systems -- The Dynamic Quality of Deutschโs Cynernetic Approach -- Summary -- II: The Cybernetic Approach and International Politics -- Concepts of International Politics -- State of Nature concept -- Systems concept -- Determining the Character of International Systems -- Historical comparison -- Modelskiโs approach -- Riggsโ historical comparison -- Non-historical comparison -- Masterโs primitive society -- Kissinger and limited warfare -- Futuristic comparison -- Kaplanโs systems -- Cybernetic view of international politics -- International Action systems -- Consciousness and risk in policy choice -- Passitivity factor -- Summary -- III: The Cybernetic Approach and the Past -- Use of the Past -- Problem of Concealment -- A Nineteenth Century Action System -- France-Prussia in 1870 -- Cross-cutting forces -- Bismarckโs alliances -- Summary -- IV: International Political Systems and The Future -- The Present and the Future -- Rosecranceโs Environmental Approach -- McClellandโs Action System Approach -- Critique -- Summary -- V: Pathology and International Systems -- Introduction: Cybernetic Systems and Pathology -- Pathology and International Systems -- International Action Systems -- Maintenace -- Pathological Mixtures -- Nuclear Weapon -- Conclusions


SUBJECT

  1. Social sciences
  2. Global analysis (Mathematics)
  3. Manifolds (Mathematics)
  4. Anthropology
  5. Social Sciences
  6. Anthropology
  7. Global Analysis and Analysis on Manifolds