From the war on terror to the global financial crisis, traditional concepts of world politics are being challenged on a daily basis. In these uncertain times, the study of international relations and the forces that shape them have never been more important. Written specifically for students who are approaching this subject for the first time, World Politics is the most accessible, coherent and up-to-date account of the field available. It covers the historical backdrop to today’s political situations, the complex interactions of states and non-state actors, the role of political economy, human security in all its forms, and the ways in which culture, religion and identity influence events. World Politics takes a new approach that challenges traditional interpretations, and will equip students with the knowledge and the confidence needed to tackle the big issues.

Table of Contents:
Part One: International Relations and Globalisation 1. International Relations and Globalisation in the 21st Century International Relations and globalisation Why is globalisation important for understanding International Relations? Technological, political, economic and cultural globalisation Important post-Cold War changes affecting International Relations Understanding globalisation Conclusion 2. International Order, International Society and Globalisation Fundamental aspects of International Relations following the Peace of Westphalia (1648) International order and international society after the cold War Globalisation, international order and international society Conclusion Part Two: The History of Globalisation and International Relations 3. International Relations from the early 19th Century to World War II European nationalism and imperialism World War I and International Relations The League of Nations: an attempt to build an international organisation to maintain collective security The legacy of the League of Nations Conclusion 4. International Relations after World War II International relations after World War II The United Nations The Cold War and nuclear weapons The international relations of the developing countries Conclusion 5. After the Cold War: International Relations in a Globalised World Introduction International relations after the Cold War: the impact of globalisation New World Order: more cooperation, less conflict? Competing norms and values in international relations after the Cold War Trends in post-Cold War international relations: security, ideology and development International Relations in the 21st century Conclusions Part Three: International Relations Theories 6. Realism and Neo-Realism Context The ‘back-story’ to Realism Realism in International Relations Key assumptions Key concepts Conclusions and criticisms 7. Liberalism Context The ‘back-story’ to Liberalism Liberalism in contemporary International Relations Key assumptions Key concepts Conclusions and criticisms 8. Marxism and Neo-Marxism Context The ideas of Marx The ideas of Lenin Dependency Theory World Systems Theory Key concepts Conclusions and criticisms 9. Critical Theory Context Contemporary critical theory and IR Key concepts Conclusions 10. Alternative Approaches Theoretical context Postmodernism Feminism Green theory Conclusions 11. Social Constructivism Social Constructivism as a bridge between the traditional theories Agency and culture in IR A Social Constructivist reappraisal of IR’s key concepts The empiricists strike back? Critiques of Social Constructivism Conclusion Part Four: International and Regional Actors 12. Intergovernmental Organisations What is an intergovernmental organisation? The evolution and diversity of IGOs IR theory and IGOs Conclusions 13. Global Multi-Purpose IGOs: The United Nations and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference Intergovernmental organisations and globalisation The United Nations and international law The UN Charter The five permanent members of the UN Security Council: permanent privileges Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) The OIC: history and development Conclusion: comparing the UN and the OIC 14. Regional Organisations and Regionalisation: Theory and Practice Introduction Regional cooperation and globalisation Old regionalisation and new regionalisation The North American Free Trade Agreement Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Conclusion 15. The European Union and the African Union Introduction The European Union The African Union Conclusion Part Five: Current Global Issues 16. International Political Economy, Part I: Theory and History What is IPE? A short history of IPE Approaches to IPE The contemporary trading system The contemporary international monetary system Conclusions 17. International Political Economy, Part II: Key Actors and Controversies The IMF and World Bank International trade organisations Multi-national corporations (MNCs) Theoretical perspectives on the actors of IPE Conclusions 18. Development, Poverty and Inequality The persistence of global poverty Approaches to development The evolution of development policy Conclusions 19. Gender Context Gender approaches to IR Gender and security Gender and international development Future developments Conclusions 20. Identity and Identities Forms of identity Theorising identity Conclusions 21. Democratisation What is democracy? The three waves of democratisation What can make democracy permanent? Democratisation by force – ‘nation building’ Is democratisation important for international relations? Conclusions 22. Human Rights The evolution of the idea of human rights The United Nations and the codification of human rights Implementing human rights Are human rights ‘right’? Conclusions 23. The Natural Environment The emergence of political ecology The globalisation of political ecology Global environmental policy and human security Threats to a global consensus on environmental policy Conclusions