International relations : a very short introduction / Chritian Reus-Smit.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Reus-Smit, Christian, 1961- author.

Series:

Very short introductions ; 164.

Very short introductions ; 164

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

International relations.

Physical Description:

xxiv, 147 pages : illustrations (black and white) ; 18 cm.

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2020.

Summary:

International relations affects everyone's lives: their security, economic well-being, rights and freedoms, and the environment they share. Recently we have seen the transformation from a world of empires to today's world of sovereign states, which are enmeshed in a complex array of international institutions, all exercising degrees of political authority. The new global organization of political authority has far-reaching consequences. This Very Short Introduction untangles this complex world, providing an accessible framework for understanding the contours of global political change. Christian Reus-Smit treats theory as an indispensable tool for grasping international relations, but demystifies theorizing, introducing it as an everyday human practice. He surveys a range of theories, from realism to feminism: reading them as contrasting perspectives on the global organization of political authority. Historically, such organization has been shaped by diverse social forces, four of which are discussed in detail: shifting patterns of warfare, changing economic conditions, struggles for rights, and the politics of culture. Reus-Smit concludes with a reflection on the future of international relations in an era of profound global change. -- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

1 What is international relations? p. 1

2 The global organization of political authority p. 11

3 Theory is your friend p. 29

4 War p. 47

5 Economy p. 64

6 Rights p. 83

8 An essential political science p. 119.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0198850212

9780198850212

OCLC:

1111982949