A history of International Relations Theory / Torbjørn L. Knutsen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Knutsen, Torbjørn L., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

International relations--History.

International relations.

International relations--Philosophy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 532 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

Third edition.

Place of Publication:

Manchester : Manchester University Press, 2016.

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

This book traces discussions about international relations from the middle ages up to the present times. It presents central concepts in historical context and shows how ancient ideas still affect the way we perceive world politics. It discusses medieval theologians like Augustine and Aquinas whose rules of war are still in use. It presents Renaissance humanists like Machiavelli and Bodin who developed our understanding of state sovereignty. It argues that Enlightenment philosophers like Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau laid the basis for the modern analyses of International Relations (IR). Later thinkers followed up with balance-of-power models, perpetual-peace projects and theories of exploitation as well as peaceful interdependence. Classic IR theories have then been steadily refined by later thinkers - from Marx, Mackinder and Morgenthau to Waltz, Wallerstein and Wendt.The book shows that core ideas of IR have been shaped by major events in the past and that they have often reflected the concerns of the great powers. It also shows that the most basic ideas in the field have remained remarkably constant over the centuries.

Contents:

Front matter

Dedication

Contents

List of figures and tables

Preface to the third edition

Introduction

I Preludes

1 Gods, sinners and preludes of International Relations theory

2 Renaissance politics

II Philosophies of war and peace

3 Reformation politics

4 Absolutist politics

5 Enlightenment politics

6 Ideological politics

III The classic age of International Relations

7 Intermezzo

8 The Great War, the big League and the twenty years’ crisis

9 World War II, the UN and the postwar order

10 Rivals, realists and Cold War

11 The thaw and the Third World

12 Arms races and revolutions

13 The turn

IV A future history of International Relations

14 Unipolar world?

15 Global politics

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 20 Mar 2026).

ISBN:

1-78499-727-7

OCLC:

1232742314