World Politics: Why is it useful to distinguish between.
varying levels of analysis when studying international.
affairs?.
One of the main things to consider when studying.
international affairs are the many parts that make up the.
whole. The parts being the individual level of analysis,.
state level of analysis, and global level of analysis. While.
each part carries its own distinction each one is a part of.
the other. But the usefulness of understanding the different.
levels becomes evident when filtering through the many.
perceptions of world reality so readily available. .
It would be difficult to explain the usefulness of the.
levels without first discovering how perceptions influence.
images of reality. As Charles Kegley and Eugene Wittkopf.
stated, "we all carry mental images of world politics -.
explicit or implicit, conscious or subconscious. But.
whatever our level of awareness, our images simplify reality.
by exaggerating some features of the real world while.
ignoring others."1 This says to me that identifying the .
different levels bring somewhat of an organized hierarchy to.
the various images of reality, which would otherwise be to.
many individually to explore. Our personal reality.
determines our religious beliefs, morals, and our approach.
to other cultures. These many images make up the identifying.
levels of analysis that are defined in Kegley and Wittkopf's.
"World Politics."1 .
While it seems that perceptions constantly change thus .
shifting reality, one would question the usefulness of .
examining the levels at all. But what makes the levels of .
analysis vital is that it provides a formula if you will-to .
group, identify and shape trends. All of which allow us to .
identify issues of concern at every level or in short .
interpret perceptions of reality. This chain of events .
becomes important as it allows us to understand old and new .
images of individual, state, and global reality. Meaning, we .
will be able to identify new behaviors, trends, and .
