Suchergebnisse

The author defines an area study as the study of a region presenting a certain politico-social unity with a view to understanding and explaining its place and role in international society. This result can only be obtained by the systematic use of all branches of study that may provide valid explanations. This approach is not new, but the originality of US area studies lies in their systematic character, the number and variety of disciplines on which they draw and the novelty of the aim in view. 3 aspects of area research methodology are considered. (1) Place of area studies in the study of international relations. The scientific examination of the factors in the situation of a given country or group of countries implies that the chief aim is to assess the relationship between a geographical area and the rest of the world. (2) When can a region be considered an area and submitted to systematic study? The first case suitable for an area study is that of a dependent or independent territory with sufficiently pronounced individuality to enable it to play its own part in international relations. It is expedient to group a number of territories for an area study when (a) this group presents some unity of character (geographical, ethnic, linguistic, etc.) leading to common features in international relations or (b) when none of the elements in the group has pronounced individuality. (3) What are the elements of a systematic study and how is it possible to determine the disciplines to be employed? It is felt that history, geography and sociology should form the core of any area study . Other disciplines are used as required in particular geographic areas. The director will play an important role in choosing the area to be studied and in selecting the sciences that may be profitably used. The study must be made by a team, each member a specialist in a given area, the director being a specialist in international relations. M. Morris.