| Dina Zinnes | |
| Nationality: | American |
| Fields: | Political science |
Dina A. Zinnes is an American political scientist. She is Professor Emerita in the Department of Political Science at the University of Illinois. Zinnes studies international relations, and was a pioneer in the use of mathematical models in political science research.
Zinnes attended the University of Michigan and Stanford University, where she completed her PhD in 1963.[1] Her thesis was entitled Expression and perception of hostility in inter-state relations.[1] She joined the faculty of Indiana University, where she co-founded the Center for International Policy Studies.[2] She then became a professor at the University of Illinois.[3] There, she founded and directed the Merriam Laboratory for Analytic Political Research.[3] She is a Professor Emerita in the University of Illinois Department of Political Science.[4]
In 1976, Zinnes published the book Contemporary Research in International Relations: A Perspective and a Critical Appraisal.[5] In Contemporary Research in International Relations, Zinnes advocated for a new emphasis on theory development and refinement in international relations research, in contrast to the ad-hoc style of hypothesis testing that she argued characterized the field at the time.[6]
Zinnes has also edited or co-edited several of books, many of which relate to the use of mathematical modeling and quantitative analysis in international relations research. These include co-editing the 1976 book Quantitative International Politics: An Appraisal with Francis W. Hoole[7] and co-editing Mathematical Systems in International Relations Research with John V. Gillespie in 1977.[8] Other books that she co-edited on international relations topics include Cumulation in International Relations Research (1981) and Conflict Processes and the Breakdown of International Systems (1983).[9]
Zinnes was president of the International Studies Association in the 1980–1981 term.[10] She was the first woman to hold this position,[3] and is the namesake of an annual award which is given by the Scientific Study of International Processes Section of the International Studies Association, for the best paper presented by a graduate student at the Association's annual conference.[11] She was also the president of the Midwest Political Science Association in 1982,[12] and of the Peace Science Society in 1989.[3] Zinnes has been the editor of a number of journals, including the American Political Science Review from 1981 to 1985.[3]