ABSTRACT
This paper aims to contribute to the development of a theory of international mediation by considering, in some detail, the experience at Camp David and, more specifically, the role of President Carter. The uniqueness of this event cannot of course be ignored, but even unique cases can contribute to theory development, especially if they are considered as one of a class of events. Single cases can provide a powerful impetus to the development of a general explanation as long as they are historically grounded and their description is not couched in purely idiosyncratic terms. For too long, students of international relations have developed theories as normative or deductivist products making minimal use of historical experience. Recognizing the limits of such approaches, I propose to focus on a single case of international mediation, study it intensively in terms of the available data and propositions, explain its outcome in these terms and formulate potentially generalizable statements about international mediation. Such an approach is likely to remain imperfect in some respects, but it seems to offer a better appreciation of the phenomenon singled out for investigation, and better opportunities for developing policy-relevant theories, than the deductive or normative approaches (George cited in Lauren, 1979: 43-68).
