A structural approach to the analysis of international relations 1: General Framc of Reference Units of Analysis The Variables Operationalization Analysis ATTRIBUTE POOLS DIPLOMACY TRADE ORGANIZATION MILITARY RELATIONS INTERCORRELATIONS BETWEEN THE DIMENSIONS NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND INTERNATIONAL DIFFERENTIATIONS ARTICULATION RELATIVE CENTRALITY Conclusions REFERENCES

Using variables previously operationalized at other systems levels, the authors attempt to construct a scheme applicable to the analysis of international relations. The variables differentiation, articulation, and relative centrality are examined along four subdimensions of international relations: diplomacy, trade, international organizations, and military alliances. Guttman scaling techniques and simple matrix analysis are employed. Relationships between the variables are explored and several hypotheses are suggested: for example, that if a nation is highly differentiated internally it will tend to be highly differentiated externally; that if a nation is highly differentiated it will be highly articulated and more relatively central; and that such a nation will tend to articulate with nations at a similar level of differentiation.