The problem

with academia IS THAT THE PAPERS ARE WRITTEN BY ACADEMICS.

Example: "This focus on boundary conditions serves to highlight the probability that economic integration does not always lead to pacific political relations. And given that the effect is not universal, if we are to have any ability to predict whether economic ties will have a pacific effect in a particular case--like the relationship across the Taiwan Strait--it becomes imperative to have a clear understanding of the microfoundations underlying any relationship that might exist between commerce and and conflict. In other words, simply knowing that strong economic ties are present in a particular case should not convince us that the liklihood of a military confrontation is therefore reduced in that case. Rather, it would be better to be able to observe whether or not the casual processes that link economic interdependence to a reduction in military violence are operating in that case. Existing studies have identified at least three-non mutually exclusive casual mechanisms through which economic interdependence can yield a reduced probability of military conflict."

That's a very impressive paragraph, Dr. Kastner. EXCEPT FOR THE PART WHERE IT TAKES TWENTY MINUTES TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE FUCK YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

This is what you said:
- Economic interdependence does not always promote peace.
- It does promote peace when three established conditions are met.
- Therefore, if you want to evaluate the effect of economic interdependence, you should focus on these specific conditions, not overall interdependence.

SO WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY IT THAT WAY? OH, BECAUSE THEN YOU DIDN'T GET TO USE THE WORD "MICROFOUNDATIONS." I AM GOING TO DRIVE TO MARYLAND TO SHOVE A COPY OF THIS PAPER UP YOUR LEFT NOSTRIL. THE END.

//I realize this blog used to be about things other than international relations/my obsession with professors thereof. I will attempt to return things to their previous state. Maybe tomorrow I'll take a nice spill headfirst down the stairs and we can go back to focusing on things like that.