Introduction To A Theory Of Political Power In International Relations

This title was first published in 2000: An in-depth look at the definition of power. The writing is well crafted and very readable and comprises a range of theoretical deliberations and analysis of the numerous aspects of political power and its use in international relations. This includes an examination of idea and structure: population; territory; economics; military; the political system; ideology; and morale and its forms appearing in international relations in the past, present and future: influence and force. This, coupled with the author’s gift for teasing out the pertinent points in an argument and using relevant and interesting examples, provides an excellent piece of comprehensive insight into a theory of political power.

Couloumbis/Wolfe balances between a current event (its approach could be called conceptual rather than policy) approach and a theoretical approach. It has a theme of power and justice.

This textbook introduces students to the key changes in current global politics in order to help them make sense of major trends that are shaping our world. The emphasis on change in global politics helps students to recognize that genuinely new developments require citizens to change their beliefs and that new problems may appear even as old ones disappear. It is designed to encourage students to think ahead in new, open-minded ways, even as they come to understand the historical roots of the present. Key features: explains global politics using an historical approach assesses several types of theory so that students become aware of what theory is and why it is necessary for understanding global politics presents key aspects of global politics including the development of the nation-state, power, international law, war, foreign policy, security, terrorism, international organization, international political economy, the global south, the environment and globalization extensive pedagogy to reinforce learning - student activities, visual materials, definitions of key terms and names, learning boxes, cultural materials, key documents, annotated bibliography and website addresses (support website with lecturers' materials, datasets and updates). Introduction to Global Politics will be essential reading for students of political science, global politics and international relations.

Since the sudden disappearance of the Soviet Union, many scholars have argued that the balance of power theory is losing its relevance. This text examines this viewpoint, as well as looking at systematic factors that may hinder or favour the return of balance of power politics.

This exciting new text adopts a challenging question-led approach to the major issues facing global society today, in order to investigate the nature and complexity of global change. Among other things it looks at the future of the state, the environment, the international political economy, war and global rivalries, and the role of international law and the UN in the post-Cold War world. The book devises a readily comprehensible "change map", which both incorporates a wide range of the fundamental concepts of international relations theory and suggests a number of new concepts capable of assisting the investigation of global change. This new framework is deployed to look closely at real world issues in order to isolate the crucial factors which determine whether or not mass hunger, for example, or enviromental abuse, can be eliminated.

This is a textbook which sets out a framework for the consideration of international relations in the 1990s, and applies this framework to a number of case studies. Within a general focus on the forces of continuity and change in the world arena, it identifies four central elements in the analysis of contemporary world politics: the international arena; the international agenda; policy, processes and power; and order, justice and change. These elements are explored in a number of chapters which identify the salient analytical issues and assess the ways in which enquiry can be pursued.

This is a major new edition of a highly-regarded textbook on International Relations theory which combines deep analysis into the diversity of thought within the major scholarly traditions and the guidance for students on doing their own theorising. Knud Erik Jorgensen analyses the nuances of the main contending theories and approaches, their philosophical underpinnings, and explains their use and relevance to different research agendas. This is all placed within the context of cross-cutting coverage of key current issues and debates; of the philosophical foundations of IR theory; and of why different theories are addressed to different research agendas. All chapters have been fully revised and updated, and a new chapter on the Human-Nature tradition has been included to reflect the changes within the field. This text is the most up-to-date and informative text on International Relations theory, and is an essential companion for all International Relations students.

The great writings of the past on the subject of international relations add an important dimension to the contemporary study of the field. The Theory of International Relations consists of substantial selections from authors whose ideas should be readily available to all students of international relations. All the passages selected by the editors ask fundamental, theoretical questions searching for the essence of interstate relations. This quest for answers carries the reader into investigations of the causes of war, the balance of power, the relationship between international relations and the political theory of the state, and other major issues of this subject. The editors provide an introduction to the work, which sets out the principles of selection and their belief in the relevance of political thought to the understanding of international relations. The selections are arranged in chronological sequence from Alberico Gentili, writing in 1598, to Heinrich von Treitschke, lecturing in Berlin at the end of the nineteenth century. All are concerned with the nature of international politics. Some of these selections are translated here for the first time and others reprinted from translations not easily obtainable. It is significant that Gentz's essay on the balance of power has not appeared in English since 1806, while Rousseau's writings on international politics have never been fully translated at all. There can be little doubt that the great writers of the past are presently neglected by students of international relations. This work covers extensive ground in solving this problem. As the theoretical background of international relations is acquiring an increasingly important place in college courses in this area, the need for this book is widely felt. M. G. Forsyth was lecturer of politics at the University of Leicester. He is the co-author of Economic Planning and Policies in Britain, France, and West Germany. H. M. A. Keens-Soper was lecturer of politics at the University of Leicester and has also been a French government scholar at Institut d'Etudes Politiques in Paris. P. Savigear was professor of politics at the University of Leicester and before that professor of history at Exeter University.