Myth and reality in international politics : meeting global challenges through collective action / Jonathan Wilkenfeld.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wilkenfeld, Jonathan, author.

Series:

International studies intensives

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

International cooperation.

Conflict management--International cooperation.

Conflict management.

Human security--International cooperation.

Human security.

Ethnic relations--International cooperation.

Ethnic relations.

Democratization--International cooperation.

Democratization.

Economic development--International cooperation.

Economic development.

Climatic changes--International cooperation.

Climatic changes.

World politics--21st century.

World politics.

Physical Description:

x, 180 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Routledge, 2016.

Summary:

Recent generations have experienced dramatic improvements in the quality of human life across the globe. Wars between states are fought less frequently and are less lethal. Food is more plentiful and more easily accessed. In most parts of the world, birthrates are down and life expectancy up. Significantly fewer people live in extreme poverty, relative to the overall population. Statistics would argue that the human race has never before flourished as it has in this moment. And yet, even with this progress, we face a number of seemingly intractable challenges to the welfare of both states and individuals, including: Governmental instability undermining the lives of citizens, both within and beyond their borders; Persistent and recurring intrastate conflict due to ineffective conflict management strategies; Marginally successful development efforts and growing income inequality, both within and between nations, as a result of uncoordinated and ineffective global development strategies; Internecine conflict in multiethnic societies, manifested by exclusion, discrimination, and ultimately violence, the inevitable consequence of an insufficient focus on managing the inherent tensions in diverse societies; Global climate change with the possibility of catastrophic long-term consequences, following an inability to effectively come to terms with and respond to the impact of human activity on our environment. These challenges require a newly collaborative, intentional, and systematic approach. This book offers a blueprint for how to get there, calling for increased leadership responsibility, clarity of mission, and empowerment of states and individuals. It is designed to transform lofty but often vague agendas into concrete, measurable progress. It believes in the capacity of humanity to rise to the occasion, to come together to address these increasingly critical global problems, and offers one way forward. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Conflict 10

The Myth and Reality of Conflict: Setting the Scene 10

Conflict and International Collective Action: Traditional Instruments 19

Collective Action Plan: From Management to Resolution 22

Conclusion 37

2 Ethnic Diversity 39

The Myth and Reality of Ethnic Diversity: Setting the Scene 39

Ethnic Diversity and International Collective Action: Traditional Instruments 51

Collective Action Plan: A Global Doctrine for Embracing Ethnic Diversity 52

Conclusion 64

3 Instability, Democracy, and Regime Consistency 66

The Myth and Reality of Regime Consistency and Democracy: Setting the Scene 66

Regime Consistency and International Collective Action: Traditional Instruments 77

Collective Action Plan: Indicators of Regime Type and Stability 77

Conclusion 86

4 Development 88

The Myth and Reality of Development: Setting the Scene 88

Development, Aid, and International Collective Action: Traditional Instruments 101

Collective Action Plan: Development Goals 102

Conclusion 113

5 Climate Change 116

The Myth and Reality of Climate Change: Setting the Scene 116

Climate Change and Collective Action: Traditional Instruments 128

Collective Action Plan: Climate Change 132

Conclusion 143

Conclusion: Global Challenges to Human Security in the 21st Century 146

Challenges to Human Security 147

Components of a Collective Action Plan to Address Global Challenges 150.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781612055671

1612055672

9781612055688

1612055680

OCLC:

918762727