Understanding international relations

Preface to the Fourth Edition

List of Abbreviations

1. Introduction: Defining International Relations

Perspectives and Theories

Conclusion

2. The Development of International Relations Theory in the Twentieth Century

Introduction

Liberal internationalism and the origins of the discipline

The 'realist' critique of liberal internationalism

The post-war synthesis

International Relations and the behavioural sciences

Challenges to the realist synthesis

Pluralism and complex interdependence

3. International Relations Theory Today

Introduction: rational choice theory and its critics

From realism to neorealism

From neorealism to liberal institutionalism

Constructivism and the 'English School'

Critical, poststructuralist and 'postmodern' international thought

Conclusion

4. Agency, Structure and the State

Introduction

The agent-structure problem and levels of analysis

The state and International Relations

Foreign and domestic policy: agency within the state

Conclusion: from foreign policy to power

5. Power and Security

Introduction: statecraft, influence and power

Dimensions of power

Power, fear and insecurity

Conclusion: managing insecurity

6. The Balance of Power and War

Introduction

The balance of power

The political conception of war

War in the twentieth century

Conclusion: the end of state-centric International Relations?

7. Global Governance

Introduction: sovereignty, anarchy and global governance

Functionalism

Integration theory, federalism and neofunctionalism

Global economic institutions: Bretton Woods and after

International regimes and regime theory

Global governance and (collective) security

8. The Global Economy

Introduction

The growth of the world economy

Problems and perspectives

Structuralism

The new global economy

The end of the South?

9. Globalization

Introduction

A new economy?

Neoliberalism and its critics

New global problems - 'Westfailure' and the environment

Global civil society?

10. The International Politics of Identify

Introduction

Politics in industrial societies

Identity politics post-1989

Globalization and postindustrial society

Democracy promotion, Asian values and the 'clash of civilizations'

Pluralism and international society

Conclusion

11. International Relations and the Individual: Human Rights, Humanitarian Law and Humanitarian War

Introduction

Universal human rights

Rights and international law

Humanitarian intervention

Conclusions

12. The Shape of Things to Come

Introduction

A return to multipolarity?

Crisis in the global economy

Bad times, good times

Bibliography

Index