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Whiskey & International Relations Theory

Whiskey & International Relations Theory

Written by: Drs. Patrick Thaddeus Jackson & Daniel Nexon
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Patrick and Dan work their way through a piece of international-relations scholarship. And drink whiskey.

Copyright 2026 Drs. Patrick Thaddeus Jackson & Daniel Nexon
Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Episode 1: Gates of the West
    Jul 20 2026

    We're baaack!

    In the inaugural episode of the second season of Whiskey and International Relations Theory, PTJ and Dan discuss Samuel Huntington's (in)famous 1996 book, The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order.

    This episode's pairing: Glen Scotia Double Cask whisky.
    Other works mentioned include: Patrick Thaddeus Jackson, Facts and Explanations in International Studies...and beyond, and Joseph MacKay & Christopher David LaRoche, "Why Is There No Reactionary International Theory?"

    Our theme music, "Dragons," was written and performed by Beth DeSombre, and is used with her permission.

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    1 hr and 37 mins
  • Episode 33: Status? You Just Met Us!
    Oct 15 2023

    [audio updated to fix a mixing error]

    The second installment of our live taping at the British International Studies Association annual convention in Glasgow is a "Whisky Optional" roundtable on status and international-relations theory. Our guests are: Ali Bilgic of Loughborough University, Michelle Murray of Bard College, Rohan Mukherjee of the London School of Economics, and Steven Ward of the University of Cambridge.

    The taping was sponsored by the Clydeside Distillery.

    Related readings: Ali Bilgic, Turkey, Power and the West: Gendered International Relations and Foreign Policy; Michelle Murray, The Struggle for Recognition in International Relations: Status, Revisionism, and Rising Powers; Rohan Mukherjee, Ascending Order: Rising Powers and the Politics of Status in International Institutions; and Steven Ward, Status and the Challenge of Rising Powers.

    Some articles mentioned include (implicitly or explicitly) include: Ward, "Lost in Translation: Social Identity Theory and the Study of Status in World Politics," Larson and Shevchenko, "Status seekers: Chinese and Russian responses to US primacy," and Musgrave and Nexon, "Defending Hierarchy from the Moon to the Indian Ocean: Symbolic Capital and Political Dominance in Early Modern China and the Cold War."

    An important edited collection on status and international politics is Status and World Politics, eds. Paul, Larson, and Wohlforth.

    The classic "chickens" article is Ivan D. Chase, "Social Process and Hierarchy Formation in Small Groups: A Comparative Perspective."

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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Episode 32: Social Forces, States, and Clydeside Whisky
    Aug 18 2023

    Robert Cox's landmark article, "Social Forces, States and World Orders: Beyond International Relations Theory," appeared in the journal Millennium in 1981. Among other things, it introduced the distinction between "critical" and "problem-solving" theory to international-relations scholars.

    But this isn't just any old episode where Patrick and Dan ramble their way through some decades-old academic article. No, it's the first-ever live recording of Whisky and IR Theory, which took place in Glasgow in June at the annual convention of the British International Studies Association. And we had a sponsor: the Clydeside Distillery, which generously provided everyone with drinks... and souvenir whisky glasses.

    A good time was had by most. If you missed out, we'll be holding another live taping in London in October. More to come.

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    1 hr and 17 mins
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