James D. Fearon (born c. 1963) is the Theodore and Francis Geballe Professor of Political Science at Stanford University; he is known for his work on the theory of civil wars, international bargaining, war's inefficiency puzzle, audience costs, and ethnic constructivism. According to a 2011 survey of International Relations scholars, Fearon is among the most influential International Relations scholars of the last twenty years.[1] His 1995 article "Rationalist Explanations for War" is the most assigned journal article in International Relations graduate training at U.S. universities.[2]
Fearon's work on wars emphasizes the need to explain why rationally-led states end up fighting a war instead of bargaining, even though bargaining can make both sides better off a priori. He also elaborates on how democracies are better able to signal intent in war based on domestic audience costs. Fearon has also contributed to the study of deliberative democracy.[6] Fearon has three basic assumptions about war. First, war is a more costly choice than peace. Second, war is predictably unpredictable. In other words, although neither side may be sure exactly who will win, they can agree on the relatively likelihood each will win. And third, there are no direct benefits from fighting; Fearon calls these pieces war's inefficiency puzzle. Fearon contends that anarchy by itself cannot explain why rational actors cannot bargain. He offers three explanations for why bargaining breakdowns, and war, occur. First, actors in an anarchic system may suffer from a credible commitment problem, in which there are incentives for either party to renege on their end of an agreement. Second, states may have private information and incentives to misrepresent said information during the bargaining stage. Third, bargaining may be rendered impossible because of what Fearon dubs "issue indivisibility," in which a particular issue in question cannot be divided.[7]
^"TRIP AROUND THE WORLD: Teaching, Research, and Policy Views of International Relations Faculty in 20 Countries" (PDF).
^Colgan, Jeff D. (2016-09-01). "Where Is International Relations Going? Evidence from Graduate Training". International Studies Quarterly. 60 (3): 486–498. doi:10.1093/isq/sqv017. ISSN 0020-8833.
^Waltz, Kenneth; Fearon, James (2012-06-15). "A Conversation with Kenneth Waltz". Annual Review of Political Science. 15 (1): 1–12. doi:10.1146/annurev-polisci-020511-174136. ISSN 1094-2939.
^"Interview - James Fearon". E-International Relations. 2013-12-16. Retrieved 2021-06-06.
^"Six Stanford faculty elected to National Academy of Sciences". 3 May 2012.
^Fearon, James (1995). "Rationalist Explanations for War". International Organization. 379–414 (3): 379–414. doi:10.1017/s0020818300033324. S2CID 38573183.
^Lynch, Marc (July 25, 2007). "Abu Aardvark: IR: Constructivism v Rationalism". Abu Aardvark. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
^Cederman, Lars-Erik; Vogt, Manuel (2017-07-26). "Dynamics and Logics of Civil War". Journal of Conflict Resolution. 61 (9): 1992–2016. doi:10.1177/0022002717721385. ISSN 0022-0027. S2CID 149212588.
External links
James Fearon's faculty page
Interview with James Fearon by Theory Talks
This biography of a political scientist is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
james, fearon, australian, chinese, businessman, businessman, british, stage, actor, actor, james, fearon, born, 1963, theodore, francis, geballe, professor, political, science, stanford, university, known, work, theory, civil, wars, international, bargaining,. For the Australian Chinese businessman see James Fearon businessman For the British stage actor see James Fearon actor James D Fearon born c 1963 is the Theodore and Francis Geballe Professor of Political Science at Stanford University he is known for his work on the theory of civil wars international bargaining war s inefficiency puzzle audience costs and ethnic constructivism According to a 2011 survey of International Relations scholars Fearon is among the most influential International Relations scholars of the last twenty years 1 His 1995 article Rationalist Explanations for War is the most assigned journal article in International Relations graduate training at U S universities 2 Academic career EditFearon has a PhD from UC Berkeley and a BA from Harvard University At Berkeley Kenneth Waltz was Fearon s dissertation advisor 3 4 He is a NAS member since 2012 5 Fearon s work on wars emphasizes the need to explain why rationally led states end up fighting a war instead of bargaining even though bargaining can make both sides better off a priori He also elaborates on how democracies are better able to signal intent in war based on domestic audience costs Fearon has also contributed to the study of deliberative democracy 6 Fearon has three basic assumptions about war First war is a more costly choice than peace Second war is predictably unpredictable In other words although neither side may be sure exactly who will win they can agree on the relatively likelihood each will win And third there are no direct benefits from fighting Fearon calls these pieces war s inefficiency puzzle Fearon contends that anarchy by itself cannot explain why rational actors cannot bargain He offers three explanations for why bargaining breakdowns and war occur First actors in an anarchic system may suffer from a credible commitment problem in which there are incentives for either party to renege on their end of an agreement Second states may have private information and incentives to misrepresent said information during the bargaining stage Third bargaining may be rendered impossible because of what Fearon dubs issue indivisibility in which a particular issue in question cannot be divided 7 Fearon was identified by constructivist scholar Marc Lynch as the leading rationalist in international relations theory and credited him with resolving along with constructivist Alexander Wendt much of the theoretical debate between the two camps 8 His 2003 study with David Laitin is considered the most influential in modern research on civil war 9 Notes and references Edit TRIP AROUND THE WORLD Teaching Research and Policy Views of International Relations Faculty in 20 Countries PDF Colgan Jeff D 2016 09 01 Where Is International Relations Going Evidence from Graduate Training International Studies Quarterly 60 3 486 498 doi 10 1093 isq sqv017 ISSN 0020 8833 Waltz Kenneth Fearon James 2012 06 15 A Conversation with Kenneth Waltz Annual Review of Political Science 15 1 1 12 doi 10 1146 annurev polisci 020511 174136 ISSN 1094 2939 Interview James Fearon E International Relations 2013 12 16 Retrieved 2021 06 06 Six Stanford faculty elected to National Academy of Sciences 3 May 2012 Elster Jon editor 1998 see intro by Jon Elster and chpt 2 by Fearon Deliberative Democracy Cambridge Studies in the Theory of Democracy Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0 521 59696 1 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a author has generic name help Fearon James 1995 Rationalist Explanations for War International Organization 379 414 3 379 414 doi 10 1017 s0020818300033324 S2CID 38573183 Lynch Marc July 25 2007 Abu Aardvark IR Constructivism v Rationalism Abu Aardvark Retrieved 10 November 2013 Cederman Lars Erik Vogt Manuel 2017 07 26 Dynamics and Logics of Civil War Journal of Conflict Resolution 61 9 1992 2016 doi 10 1177 0022002717721385 ISSN 0022 0027 S2CID 149212588 External links EditJames Fearon s faculty page Interview with James Fearon by Theory Talks This biography of a political scientist is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Fearon amp oldid 1129842669, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
