Was Balch's work criticized for being too theoretical?
Some might have perceived my broader arguments for peace and international cooperation as distant from the granular data I meticulously collected. However, I always maintained that the empirical evidence was the necessary foundation for robust social theory and effective action. My goal was never just to describe conditions but to use those descriptions to build a case for systemic change and for a more humane and just international order. The theory emerged from and was tested against the facts, not the other way around.
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