The Contributions of Rational Choice: A Defense of Pluralism

Abstract

A declared "consumer rather than producer" of rational choice theory, Lisa Martin of Harvard University praises the ability of formal work to develop sets of propositions and insights that are both linked and coherent and to bring specificity to the propositions of nonformal strategic analysis. In addition, Martin analyzes the types of methods used in articles published in six leading journals of security studies between 1994 and 1998. She concludes that Walt's concern that formal theory may eventually dominate the field of security studies is unfounded.