War and the state : the theory of international politics / R. Harrison Wagner.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wagner, R. Harrison (Robert Harrison)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

International relations--Philosophy.

International relations.

War.

State, The.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (273 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Ann Arbor : University of Michigan Press, c2007.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

War and the State exposes the invalid arguments employed in the unproductive debate about Realism among international relations scholars, as well as the common fallacy of sharply distinguishing between conflict among states and conflict within them. As R. Harrison Wagner demonstrates, any understanding of international politics must be part of a more general study of the relationship between political order and organized violence everywhere--as it was in the intellectual tradition from which modern-day Realism was derived. War and the State draws on the insights from Wagner's distinguished career to create an elegantly crafted essay accessible to both students and scholars. Possibly the most important book on international relations theory since Kenneth Waltz's Theory of International Politics. ---James Fearon, Stanford University This is one of the best books on international relations theory I have read in a very long time. It is required reading for any student of modern IR theory. Once again, Wagner has shown himself to be one of the clearest thinkers in the field today. ---Robert Powell, Robson Professor of Political Science, University of California, Berkeley Painting on a vast canvas, and tackling and integrating topics such as state formation, domestic politics, and international conflict, R. Harrison Wagner's War and the State offers many brilliant insights into the nature of international relations and international conflict. War and the State compellingly highlights the importance of constructing rigorous and valid theorizing and sets a high standard for all students of international relations. The field has much to gain if scholars follow the trail blazed by Wagner in this book. ---Hein Goemans, University of Rochester R. Harrison Wagner is Professor of Government at the University of Texas.

Contents:

Intro

Contents

List of Figures

Preface

1. The Theory of International Politics

Theories, Arguments, and Explanations

Offensive Realism

Defensive Realism

Structural Realism

Anarchy and War

Hierarchy and Peace

Realism's Competitors

Generic Realism

2. Reason of State

Classical Realism, Social Norms, and Raison d'État

The State of Nature

The Prince

A World of Leviathans

The Market

Recurring War, Perpetual Peace

From Raison d'État to Realism

3. Violence, Organization, and War

Bargaining

Bargaining and the Use of Force

The Protection Business

The Social Contract

Anarchy and Hierarchy Reconsidered

The Global Constitution

Peace and the State

4. Bargaining and War

Warring Predators

Let's Make a Deal

Bargaining and Fighting

Bargaining, War, and Alliances

Bargaining, War, and the Balance of Power

Bargaining and the Recurrence of War

5. Enforcing Agreements

The Struggle for Power

Incentives to Attack First

Bargaining over the Distribution of Power

6. A World of Commonwealths

Taming Predators

A Mixed World

Domestic and International Politics

Writing the Global Constitution: Top-down or Bottom-up?

7. Summing Up

References

Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 239-253) and index.

ISBN:

1-282-55612-6

9786612556128

0-472-02590-2

OCLC:

652292526