Systems, relations, and the structures of international societies / Jack Donnelly.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Donnelly, Jack, author.

Series:

Cambridge studies in international relations

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

International organization.

International relations--Philosophy.

International relations.

Social systems.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xv, 456 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge ; New York, NY : Cambridge University Press, 2024.

Summary:

Inspired by recent work in evolutionary, developmental, and systems biology, Systems, Relations, and the Structures of International Societies sketches a robust conception of systems that grounds a new conception of levels (of organization, not merely analysis). Understanding international systems as multi-level multi-actor complex adaptive systems allows explanations of important features of the world that are inaccessible to dominant causal and rationalist explanatory strategies. It also develops a comprehensive critique of IR's dominant conception of systems and structures (narrow, rigid, and unfruitful); presents a novel conception of the interrelationship of the social production of continuities and the social production of change; and sketches models of spatio-political structure that cast new light on the development of international systems, including a distinctive account of the nature of globalization.

Contents:

Systems and relations

Complex adaptive systems

From levels of analysis to levels of organization

Systems, causes, and theory : explanatory pluralism in IR

Structural theory

Anarchy

The tripartite conception of structure

Functional differentiation and distribution of capabilities

Ordering principles

Relations, processes, and systems

Multiple dimensions of differentiation in assembled international systems

Continuous (trans)formation : producing social continuity and social change

Life sciences and social sciences : co-evolving complex adaptive systems

Normative-institutional differentiation

Vertical differentiation : stratification and hierarchy in international systems

Levels, centers, and peripheries : spatio-political structures

continuous (trans)formation of eurocentric political systems (c. 1225- c. 2025)

Afterword: Multiple approaches to multidimensional systems of relations.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 23 Oct 2023).

Other Format:

Print version:

ISBN:

9781009355193 (ebook)

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.