Dina Zinnes

Zinnes attended the University of Michigan[1] and Stanford University, where she completed her PhD in 1963.[2] Her thesis was entitled Expression and perception of hostility in inter-state relations.[2] She joined the faculty of Indiana University, where she co-founded the Center for International Policy Studies.[3] She then became a professor at the University of Illinois.[1] There, she founded and directed the Merriam Laboratory for Analytic Political Research.[1] 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,[1] 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.[1] Zinnes has been the editor of a number of journals, including the American Political Science Review from 1981 to 1985.[1]

• "A comparison of hostile behavior of decision-makers in simulate and historical data", World Politics (1966)
• "An analytical study of the balance of power theories", Journal of Peace Research (1967)
• Contemporary Research in International Relations: A Perspective and a Critical Appraisal (1976)
• "Three puzzles in search of a researcher: Presidential address", International Studies Quarterly (1980)
• Conflict Processes and the Breakdown of International Systems, editor (1983)