Description

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Scholars have studied international organizations (IOs) in many disciplines, thus generating important theoretical developments. Yet a proper assessment and a broad discussion of the methods used to research these organizations are lacking. Which methods are being used to study IOs and in what ways? Do we need a specific methodology applied to the case of IOs? What are the concrete methodological challenges when doing research on IOs? International Organizations and Research Methods: An Introduction compiles an inventory of the methods developed in the study of IOs under the five headings of Observing, Interviewing, Documenting, Measuring, and Combining. It does not reconcile diverging views on the purpose and meaning of IO scholarship, but creates a space for scholars and students embedded in different academic traditions to reflect on methodological choices and the way they impact knowledge production on IOs.

About the Author

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Fanny Badache is a Post-Doctoral Researcher at the Geneva Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.

Leah R. Kimber is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Columbia University and Research Associate at the University of Geneva.

Lucile Maertens is Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Lausanne.

Praise For…

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“This book is a terrific achievement. It not only provides the novice and the experienced researcher with a complete menu of methods to choose from when analyzing international organizations. The authors also take care to address cross-cutting questions of epistemology, positionality, and research ethics that we should all be aware of.” 
—Jens Steffek, Technische Universität Darmstadt
— Jens Steffek

“Politicians, pundits, and the public undervalue international organizations. Too few scholars understand enough about the nuts-and-bolts to dispel this inaccurate image. Not the team assembled in these pages, however. They detail not only why institutions matter but how to analyze these essential actors in contemporary world politics.”
—Thomas G. Weiss, The CUNY Graduate Center
— Thomas G. Weiss

“This book is original and innovative, as it is the first companion to provide a broad and thoughtful inventory of research methods used in the social sciences and humanities to understand what international organizations are and what they do: so very helpful!”
—Bob Reinalda, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

— Bob Reinalda

“International Organizations and Research Methods fills a gaping hole in the IO literature and will be particularly valuable to graduate students and IO researchers with its diversity of methods and authors covering a range of UN specialized agencies and IOs in different issue areas and regions.  The book's introduction provides a very useful overview of what the book aims to do and not do and how the editors define methods as a reflexive part of the research process.  The innovative use of boxes is a great way to present specific tools and ‘tricks,’ including interviewing in a foreign language and analyzing tweets.”
—Margaret Karns, University of Massachusetts Boston

— Margaret Karns