World politics : progress and its limits / James Mayall.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mayall, James.

Series:

Themes for the 21st century

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

International relations.

World politics.

Physical Description:

x, 170 pages ; 20 cm.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Polity ; Malden, Mass. : published in the USA by Blackwell, 2000.

Summary:

At the end of the Cold War, there was much talk of a new world order in which the sovereign state would be held to democratic account, fundamental rights would be respected, and conflict would be replaced by co-operation based on the rule of law. At the start of the new millennium most of this optimism has evaporated.

This book examines why it is so difficult to improve standards of international behaviour and explores the pre-conditions for any realistic attempt to do so. It discusses three major issues that have dominated international debate over the past decade: the tension between sovereignty and national self-determination; the problems associated with the attempt to spread democracy around the world; and the desirability of external intervention in ethnic and religious conflicts.

Rejecting both the unfounded optimism of the early 1990s and the cynical pessimism of more recent years, Professor Mayall points to the strong elements of continuity in international life. He concludes that international society is unlikely to be successfully reformed if governments continue to will progressive ends while evading responsibility for their actions.

Contents:

Part I. International society

Part II. Sovereignty

Part III. Democracy

Part IV. Intervention.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [158]-164) and index.

ISBN:

0745625894

0745625908

OCLC:

45883159