ABSTRACT
This chapter provides students with an introduction to the various theories—and their undergirding assumptions— that have shaped the various approaches to international conflict management they will encounter throughout the chapters of the book, and provide them with a basis for comparing, contrasting, and evaluating the relative merits of these theories and approaches in different contexts. The chapter introduces students to the diverse ontological and epistemological assumptions held by various scholarly disciplines and approaches to international conflict management and provides students with a background for understanding some of the different theories and assumptions found in different approaches to the field. It provides an overview of key theories, drawn from a range of academic disciplines, including political science, sociology, economics, anthropology, and psychology. The chapter also introduces key terms and concepts in international conflict management and provides a brief historical overview of the emergence of the field.
