This is an article drawing on the lessons we can learn from the work and life of Kenneth Waltz, one of the most influential IR theorists of the last century.

What Makes a Great Scholar? » Duck of Minerva.

Some highlights:

First, ask big and important questions. Start with the question and the puzzle to something big and relevant.

 

Third, quality scholarship takes time….he was given the professional latitude to publish his books a decade apart. I’m curious if that would be good enough for tenure and promotion at Berkeley or Columbia today?

 

take a position and engage in rigorous debate on the ideas to hone logic and argument.