Scenario Construction and Its Implications for International Relations Research

This article intends to introduce scenario methodology into the field of international relations (IR) in a systematic way. After clarifying what scenario methodology is and how it is presented, it argues that the scenario methodology is one of the most effective methods to connect theory to practice, thereby leading to a better understanding of future world events. This argument is based on exploring the implications of scenario method in the field of IR with regard to three issue areas – an eclectic approach to world politics, the issue of prediction in the social sciences and scenario analysis as a solution for that, and the connection between theory and practice. Overall, scenario methodology urges policy makers to make a decision on the pragmatic and problem-solving basis in a real world of policy making. This article intends to introduce scenario methodology into the field of international relations (IR) in a systematic way. After clarifying what scenario methodology is and how it is presented, it argues that the scenario methodology is one of the most effective methods to connect theory to practice, thereby leading to a better understanding of future world events. This argument is based on exploring the implications of scenario method in the field of IR with regard to three issue areas – an eclectic approach to world politics, the issue of prediction in the social sciences and scenario analysis as a solution for that, and the connection between theory and practice. Overall, scenario methodology urges policy makers to make a decision on the pragmatic and problem-solving basis in a real world of policy making. KCI Citation Count: 2