Role theory and foreign policy analysis /

Walker (Arizona State) has become, with this volume, a recognized authority on role theory in political science. He has pulled together some of his own important research, and that done by other distinguished academics, e.g., Charles and Margaret Hermann (Ohio State). Their attempts to apply role theory to foreign policy are of value, even though it is not clear where the analysis should proceed from this point. The volume is experimental, applying this theoretical construct to a variety of regions, countries, and systemic variables. As with any experimental approach, the results are somewhat disjointed, but the book has value in pushing the field of political science in new directions, rather than rehashing the old. The volume will interest graduate students and scholars, and deserves a place in graduate libraries with solid political science collections.-R.E. Bissell, Georgetown University