1st Edition
Encounters with World Affairs An Introduction to International Relations
This book is designed to familiarise students with leading International Relations (IR) theories and their explanation of political events, phenomena, and processes which cross the territorial boundaries of the state. Thus, students will be exposed to the interplay between power, interest, ideas, identity, and resistance, in explaining continuity and change in international relations. Developed to provide students with the analytical tools and intellectual frameworks needed to understand the behaviour of different international actors in contemporary global affairs. This textbook responds to the challenges of a dynamic job market by assisting students to gain both thorough theoretical knowledge and training them to apply this knowledge to real world problems. In short, this textbook delivers: A comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to the examination of national, regional and global trends in politics, economics and socio-cultural developments allowing students to understand: ¢ the practice and theory of contemporary international relations ¢ the politics, culture, history, and economies of different regions around the world ¢ the role played by international interactions, culture, and government in local, national, and global settings. Equipping students with the proficiency: ¢ to understand and interpret the dynamics, patterns, and issues of global affairs ¢ to know how to get more information about particular questions ¢ to evaluate that information independently and effectively. To these ends, the textbook provides a number of features that will appeal to students and avoids overwhelming students with chapters on topics which (in practice) are rarely on courses, while nonetheless providing a comprehensive overview of the field. Introduces students to the main debates, topics, and terms in the field and allows them to decide which they would like to focus on in their further studies.
Contents
Prologue
Observing and encountering global life – Emilian Kavalski
Part I: Perspectives and frameworks
Chapter 1
The history of global politics – Kevin Marsh
Chapter 2
Theories of world affairs – Mark Chou and Avery Dorothy Howard Poole
Chapter 3
Ethics and morality in international relations – Lavina Lee
Chapter 4
The levels of analysis of the international system – Taku Tamaki
Part II: Actors
Chapter 5
The state on the world stage – Theresa Callan
Chapter 6
Individuals in international politics – David Walton
Chapter 7
Transnational actors in world politics – Brian King
Chapter 8
Nature as an Actor in International politics – Stephen Hobden
Part III: Topics and issues
Chapter 9
The international economy of world politics – Greg Anderson
Chapter 10
Conflict and in/security in global life – Sandra Popiden
Chapter 11
Global inequality – Eunyoung Ha and Julia Hyeyong Kim
Chapter 12
Shifts in world power – Lui Hebron
Chapter 13
Identity politics on the world stage – David Siroky and David Muchlinski
Chapter 14
Imposing Internal Order on States – Chris Wilson
Chapter 15
Borders, Immigration and State Transformation – Alex Balch
Chapter 16
The Media and International Relations – Anne Ally
Chapter 17
Global governance – Sandra Popiden
Chapter 18
Religion and international relations – Nilay Saiya
Epilogue
What next for the study and practice of world affairs? – Emilian Kavalski
Biography
Dr. Emilian Kavalski is Associate Professor of Global Studies at the Institute for Social Justice, Australian Catholic University.
’Finally a comprehensive and serious approach to International Relations that pays necessary homage to its theories and frameworks as a discipline while striving to acquaint readers to the topicality, relevance, and impact of what an IR scholar actually empirically studies and why it MATTERS in the real world. This is a welcome novel engagement of the discipline that should attract many new young minds to our field.’ Matthew Crosston, Bellevue University, USA ’International Relations is a young discipline. This textbook is an innovative attempt at exploring this young discipline in all its complexities and contradictions. A very useful book to inform the beginners and to engage the scholars. Rigorous as well as accessible!’ Harsh V. Pant, King's College London, UK ’In this excellent and innovative volume Kavalski has assembled scholars working at the forefront of contemporary international relations. All of the chapters provide surprising insights and unique perspectives on the contemporary practice and theory of international relations. It is refreshing to find a textbook that challenges long held assumptions in this way. A must read for all introductory courses on global politics.’ Colin Wight, University of Sydney, Australia
