practical foundations of international relations

Helpful subheadings throughout. The textbook is comprehensive in range of concepts it covers. The book is very comprehensive. it would have helped if the editor pushed the contributing authors to adapt a more nuanced language for their chapters. Several chapters reference current events heavily, which will need updates soon. In the United States, we still include segments on the causes, conduct, and consequences of both interstate (between states) and intrastate (within state) wars in our introductory IR courses. The book is a persuasive review of the theoretical foundations of international relations studies. It's great to have two main parts (i.e., the basics and global issues, respectively), and 18 chapters can be easily covered in a semester by instructors' own class schedules. Other elements are deeply historical and unlikely to need updating anytime soon. The book contains no links, pictures, charts, graphs, or visuals at all--even where the addition of these materials could help students using the text. However, using it as the primary text for college students in the United States would require a lot of extra work (developing a glossary,discussion questions, finding the images,charts, figures going along with the text, etc.). Because the chapters can each stand alone, I think it's a great resource for instructors to be able to assign one or a few chapters to supplement other materials in the course. Since there are no images or suggestions for discussion or further reading, a faculty member using this book would have to do a huge amount of work to make the text engaging for students. The approachability of the text and relevant case studies will leave students with the tools needed to understand and analyse international events. Stephen McGlinchey, University of the West of England, Reviewed by Corina Ladd, Adjunct Professor, Tidewater Community College on 4/29/23, Many reviewers have noted that the book doesn't talk about war. Unfortunately, in spite of the fact that the book is less than a year old, some sections are already debatably in need of updating (particularly Ch. That being said, I think that the chapters on international organizations and the environment would be two excellent standalone chapters that I could assign in any of my classes. For example, chapter 2 was really the first substantive chapter in the work, and it was on diplomacy. James Arvanitakis is the Executive Director of the Australian American Fulbright Commission and an Adjunct Professor at the Institute for Culture and Society at Western Sydney University. Many reviewers have noted that the book doesn't talk about war. Please note items in your basket cannot be carried over to a different region. This is incorrect. Still, some materials (e.g., religion, colonialism, etc.) I found some of the chapters to be written in an incredibly simple way, beneficial for introductory students. My chief complaint-- and this is true of most IR texts-- is that the latter third (issues) rarely refers back to concepts and theories. Some topics, however, are dispersed throughout various chapters and could benefit from being looked at in a single section/chapter. In the south, a disgruntled Taliban commander and former Guantanamo Bay detainee, Mullah Abdul Raoof Khadim, swore allegiance to ISIS, while in the east, six Pakistani Taliban commanders led by Hafiz Sayed Khan raised ISIS's black flag . E-International Relations has curated an extensive online area with free multimedia resources to accompany each chapter of the book. Peter Vale is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria, and Nelson Mandela Professor of Politics Emeritus at Rhodes University. The textbook does not provide and index or glossary, The book is written clearly and at a level that undergraduate college students should have no problems There is no assumption that the reader has been exposed to the field of IR. Contributors in Part One tried to present the logic behind the flow from one chapter to another, but it is still odd to put a chapter on Diplomacy right after chapter 1 and before the chapter introducing the main actors of IR. Unlike typical textbooks, there are no boxes, charts, pictures or exercises. The organization of this text is nearly identical to all standard IR texts. Each chapter should really end with its own list of sources cited, rather than having one long references section at the end of the book. In the discipline of international relations there are contending general theories or theoretical perspectives. Zo Jay, Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, University of Tasmania, Australia. Moving away from a purely European perspective, students will gain an understanding of traditional ideas about International Organisation, whilst also appreciating how issues such as COVID and food security are truly international in scope. The authors enumerate the principles of Sufi foundations of international relations in Islam by introducing the theosophical standpoints of Islamic Sufism. This is ridiculously boring and very far out of touch from how students actually learn. This is an effective exercise, but ultimately does not compensate, as it were, for what are rather insubstantial explications of the IR theories themselves. Related ideas are well-grouped and the presentation of topics is logical and clear. The organization is logical and given the modularity of the text, instructors who adopt the book could easily change the order if needed for their purposes. Consistency in terms of chapter format, however, is lacking. The text did not appear to have major grammatical errors. The participants might be disappointed at how little progress we have made since they met, but they probably would not be surprised. Some topics, however, are dispersed throughout various chapters and could benefit from being looked at in a single section/chapter. $34.52 - $40.95 Other new and used from $30.55. 12. Indeed, the accessible and conversational, yet informative and interesting, narrative style serves to distinguish the text from other introductory IR textbooks. In general, the book presents accurate accounts of the key themes in IR, from a range of perspectives. The authors are clear in their presentation but they have watered down their approach so much that the text lacks conceptual clarity. Every major facet of IR is covered in clearly written terms. An engaging introduction to the core concepts, theories, actors and issues in global politics. Stephen McGlinchey is a Senior Lecturer in Interna. Foundations of International Relations is a wonderfully rich, yet highly accessible, introduction to International Relations, both as a subject and as a discipline. Dana Gold works in regulatory strategy and research for the Ontario Public Service. Future editions of the book would benefit from further diversifying the set of authors; including more contemporary, pressing global issues (such as, for example, the rise of China); and streamlining the structure of individual chapters to follow a common, pedagogically effective standard. Students learn best when their texts have clear, simple, and accessible organization and prose. Some teaching cases embedded in the chapters were sufficiently historical, so they are won't need updating anytime soon. The textbook is up-to-date. While the first chapter downplays the harms done by colonization, the chapter on poverty discusses colonization as one of the causes of global poverty. The texts interface is remarkably simple: just plain, narrative text (with references). As is chapters do not necessarily follow each other. Stephen McGlinchey is a Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of the West of England, Bristol (UWE Bristol). There is some non-standard use of concepts. For the most part, the book is accurate and error free. Each chapter is very short and can be assigned at different points within the course. Connectivity, Communications And Technology, 17. The current IR text I use (World Politics by Frieden, Lake, and Schultz) is far superior on this point but they are so expensive! Global Health Mukesh Kapila 20. For example, the chapter on diplomacy calls the reaction of common alarm in response to the development of nuclear weapons in a previously non-nuclear state a norm (p.25). Power and Foreign Policy in International Relations: O.P. Combined with the lack of finding aids, I think the lack of interface would frustrate some students. Overall, the book's flow is consistent. Would you like to go to the United Kingdom site? It clearly covers all of the major themes, theories, concepts and trends in an extremely dynamic subject matters. He has sipped tea in . Article A Brief Introduction to the Study of International Relations A feature for those interested in becoming familiar with the study of IR and also for students struggling to grasp how IR fits together. The division of the text into smaller readings sections is fairly good. The chapter on Pax Americana is also about security. Global Diplomacy: the United Nations in the World: University of London. It is more like a reader on International Relations topics and has chapter that are not in a number of standard texts. Global Diplomacy - Diplomacy in the Modern World: University of London. As an introductory textbook, the book is composed of considerably simplified narratives. The approachability of the text and relevant case studies will leave students with the tools needed to understand and analyse international events. The professor using this text would almost certainly need to supplement it with additional readings, and would probably also need to put a good deal of thought into designing exercises, lectures, tests, and study guides based on this material. I didn't see anything offensive, but I think there could've been more attention paid to non-Western examples. The book at least touches on all of the subjects that I routinely cover in my introductory course on international relations, but the coverage of the subjects vary greatly. There are no interface errors, but the book is entirely page after page of similar-looking text. In a couple of rare instances, the simplified presentation might be construed as inaccurate or, at least, controversial. The text has a strong internal consistency. As of this reviewing no major grammatical issues detected. This book is designed as a foundational entry point to International Relations theory. The text builds on foundational case studies and then applies this knowledge to the contemporary period. The book's introduction also gives recommendations for how to read, which, if idealistic, could be useful to college freshmen who are not used to reading long texts. Chapters cover topics including race, colonialism, gender, sexuality, digital globalization, the environment and security studies and are supported by a range of case studies, key boxes and illustrative material to aid students in their practical application of theoretical ideas. The fourth chapter, which introduces international relations theory, is co-authored by Dana Gold and Stephen McGlitchy. Gnter Walzenbach is a Senior Lecturer in European Politics at the University of the West of England, Bristol (UWE Bristol). Further, the chapters make effective use of subheadings to present the material, while remaining coherent. As such it is a valuable resources in instances when textbook costs are a prohibitive barrier. Reviewed by David Mislan, Assistant Professor, American University on 2/1/18, International Relations is an edited volume that attempts to cover all of the common themes in an introduction to IR course. I appreciate the readability of the book. Traditional and Middle Ground Theories Stephen McGlinchey and Dana Gold Transnational Terrorism Katherine E. Brown Levels of Analysis Carmen Gebhard Possibly, below stuffs can be added: democratic peace theory, capitalist peace theory, domestic audience costs, power transition theory, etc. One thing I'd like to see is more attention to key concepts in the first few chapters. Individual chapters also work as standalone pieces, thereby facilitating easy addition (or removal) of chapters on particular global issues, if required. In the first chapter, The Making of the Modern World, by Eric Ringmar, the emergence of the norm of sovereignty is examined as a foundational development toward the Westphalian system of nation-states that emerged in Europe. I would not classify this as a comprehensive text of introductory international relations. 3. As it stands the textbook is rather fragmented. I thought the chapters on the environment and food security were But the book should do this, because students need to be presented with examples of how IR works and how we can respond to these global issues. A handy Getting Started section prior to the first chapter guides the reader on how to navigate the text, elaborating on some of the fields jargonwhich is used sparinglyas well as on the use of academic citations. The text is largely inclusive, and the individual authors are representative of the global nature of the discipline. CENTER FOR OPEN EDUCATION | The Open Education Network is based in the Center for Open Education in the University of Minnesotas College of Education and Human Development. McGlinchy has organized the chapter contributions in a sensible and accessible manner that succeeds in covering all of the major subjects and themes of the discipline. I think the book would be better if there was a more concerted effort to integrate. The field therefore encompasses a diverse array of topics, from the causes of war to the politics of development, from international institutions . Chapter five, written by Knut Traisbach, introduces public international law. Reviewed by Abigail Post, Assistant Professor of Political Science and National Security, Anderson University on 12/4/20, I would not classify this as a comprehensive text of introductory international relations. Instructor resources, including powerpoints, essay questions and a multiple choice question bank for each chapter are available from Bloomsbury. Possibly, below stuffs can be added: democratic peace theory, capitalist peace theory, domestic audience costs, power transition theory, etc. This is particularly key for an international relations textbook with such a heavy emphasis on current world affairs. read more. terminology is very clear and almost too simplistic. Yes, they provide accurate information and I could not find misinformation. This was particularly true since a key theme of the book is that the ideas of IR being international and focused on states is somewhat outdated, shifting to adopt terms such as global, globalisation, and non-state actors. The chapter also contends with the laws of peace, and international humanitarian law, including the related laws of war. Again, the quality of the prose varies from chapter to chapter. I'm not sure if this is normal for an e-book. It can be easily adopted as an Intro IR textbook in any English-speaking college/university in the world. 1. Some topics, however, are dispersed throughout various chapters and could benefit from being looked at in a single section/chapter. in that respect it accomplishes a decent job; however, in terms of complementarity of chapters with one and another, it clearly fails. Stephen McGlinchey is a Senior Lecturer in Interna. The updates should be fairly straightforward to implement. There were no navigation problems (the table of contents was accurate). The Theoretical and Practical Importance of a Theory of International Relations, by Hans J. Morgenthau Appendix 3. al. Possibly, below stuffs can be added: democratic peace theory, capitalist peace theory, domestic audience costs, power transition theory, etc. if the idea is to attract the attention of younger college age readers, it fails to achieve that. Foundations of International Relations delivers a comprehensive explanation of International Relations that includes a thorough introduction to critical theories and non-western viewpoints alongside established IR theories and narratives. While the standalone quality of the chapters on global issues ensures modularity, it also serves as a dent in the books logical organization. Shazelina Z. Abidin is the Director General of the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations of Malaysia. This edited volume provides a comprehensive yet not so well integrated coverage of the issues and theories that define the international relations field today. The philosophy underpinning this book is that these things can be a distraction. I don't find many of the chapters to be particularly useful for my purposes, but some other instructors might. In addition, the textbook does not talk about dictatorship and human rights violations, and the global response. The book is also complimented by a bespoke curated website, featuring a regularly updated collection of interactive learning material and hosted on E-International Relations, the world's leading open access IR website.Portraying the most compelling issues of our time, and presenting the necessary tools to analyse and debate the subject, this is an invaluable resource for anyone studying international relations. There are many topics that I don't typically cover in an Intro to IR course but that I could see being interesting to students (e.g. Adding discussion questions at the end of each chapter, as well as a summary of key themes, would greatly help the reader. I did not notice any typos, but the authors used informal/casual writing that I ban my undergraduates from using. The first section of the book, "The Basics," did not cover the basics in as much detail as I would have liked to see. He provides an overview of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and its diminution in recent years. Many thanks! The frameworks used by the contributors clearly vary a lot. amount, in any currency, is appreciated. Global Civil Society Raffaele Marchetti 15. Aside from these exceedingly rare instances, the book has undergone a thorough editing and proofing process, thereby minimizing distraction from the content. A minor criticism, however, is that some chapters in Part Two do not adequately tie the discussion of the issue to concerns and debates in IR. Countries in the global south are presented as object of diplomacy, or as the sites of problems like famine, rather than presented as active participants in globalization (I guess if they'd be willing the use the term globalization, they could have avoided this problem). Clare Stevens is a Teaching Fellow in International Security with the Portsmouth Military Education team at the University of Portsmouth. Some scholars might prefer to also understand the nature of government in lands, territories and empires prior to the emergence of "the state" in the context of other non-European pre-states. Students are brought on an engaging intellectual journey through a range of contending perspectives and issues, whilst being encouraged to think critically throughout. I understand that IR is interdisciplinary and rooted in the arts and humanities, but I also think that IR can be presented in a straight-forward and clinical way that makes reading and writing on the topic simple and accessible. The grammar is fine. Several chapters use case studies and examplesaccurately describedto illustrate complex ideas and abstract concepts. Realism in Waltz's view was severely limited, as where other classic disciplines of international relations. It's easy to read, however. The editor himself argues that the text should be read in order in the "Getting Started Section.". The second half takes the book from "good" to "fantastic". Authors might also have been encouraged to recommend further reading or links to online resources related to each chapter. Each chapter has a separate author but it does begin by making a connection to other chapters. The books chapters, while authored by different contributors, are consistently edited, giving the text a high degree of consistency. Reviewed by Azamat Sakiev, Assistant Professor, Pennsylvania State University on 2/1/18, The textbook is comprehensive in range of concepts it covers. Most, but not all, chapters are designed to first briefly introduce the topic or concept, followed by illustrative cases to help the readers comprehension. The chapter on food insecurity has a "bottom up perspective" that gives examples from everyday life in a number of countries and is designed to draw in readers rather than overwhelm them with global statistics. The book lacks clearly written definitions of terms (e.g. It then focuses on helping the reader to understand the various principle and theories, structure, key actors, and international organizations both state and nonstate . The book is very consistent. The book is accurate and error-free. So, when I'm looking for a book, I'm looking for a reference guide/companion to my lectures. There should be more discussion of the causes of wars and civil wars, however. This introduction to International Relations is one of the most original and interesting to come to the market in a long while. The content appears accurate. Some chapters are simplified to the level of an introductory textbook, while others use formal academic prose. However, it could have included more non-Western perspectives/examples. Reviewed by Elissa Alzate, Associate Professor, Winona State University on 6/19/18, The first section of the book, "The Basics," did not cover the basics in as much detail as I would have liked to see. Both the terminology and framework of the chapters is internally consistent. Such care for a student text has not been taken for a very long time. Most of the historical and contemporary issues, challenges, and problems then flow in the ensuing chapters addressing major issues one at a time. A Court of Thorns and Roses Paperback Box Set, Teachers, Librarians, Parents & Caregivers. An excellent educational resource. Perhaps the biggest inconsistency is quality: some chapters, especially chapter 11 on Protecting People, stand out as sharp and cleara highwater mark for pedagogical effectiveness. Certainly not on an annual basis. Discovery, Conquest and Colonialism Robbie Shilliam I think each chapter is very well organized. A wide range of topics are covered. entertainment, news presenter | 4.8K views, 31 likes, 13 loves, 80 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from GBN Grenada Broadcasting Network: GBN News 28th April 2023 Anchor: Kenroy Baptiste. read more. Please sign in or create an account. Some chapters make effective use of case studies, but others do not employ cases as an explanatory technique. Sahil Mathur is a PhD candidate in International Relations and an adjunct instructor at the School of International Service, American University. It would help if each chapter is followed with its own references, rather than putting all the references at the end of the book. University of Minnesota, 330 Wulling Hall, 86 Pleasant Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. I wish the first four chapters of the basics section were covered much better. From this perspective, cooperative security policies do not preclude the need for suitable military capabilities or the occasional use of force. E-International Relations has partnered with Bloomsbury to produce a fully featured textbook for beginners. Some historical developments are more thoroughly explained than others, and students using this book might find it confusing that some background material is spread across chapters. Stephen McGlinchey has brought together a fantastic collection of authors who together present a wide-ranging, critical and accessible introduction to International Relations. Still, I'd have liked to see at least a short discussion on the changing nature of global finance in the global political economy chapter- there is a discussion of trade and multinationals which easily transitions into course discussion of GATT/WTO, and FDI, but no mention of sovereign credit or debt, which is by far the most commonly access form of global capital. For example, the IR theories are not covered in as much depth as they should be, and the author of that chapter seems to be somewhat dismissive of them. The remaining chapter contributions include introductions to a broad range of important but more specific subjects, including global political economy, religion and culture, global poverty and wealth, protecting people, giving people a voice, communications technology, terrorism, the environment, hunger, global security, and a concluding chapter on doing IR in a relevant way in the contemporary world. 4. Choose your preferred format. Its underlying, yet subtle, theme is that of globalization, and globalization has taken a hit with the pandemic. read more. The book covers a very wide and comprehensive set of topics in a concise way. It is pretty much comprehensive. read more. 4 Foundations of International Relations Theory, 1st term 2015-2016 Question 2 Bartelson, Jens, 'Short Circuits: Society and Tradition in International Relations Theory", Review of International Studies 22 (1996): 339-60 Edward Keene, International Political Thought: A Historical Introduction (Cambridge: Polity, 2005), introduction Schmidt. I thought the chapters on the environment and food security were particularly well-developed, but other chapters like the one on connectivity, communications, and technology would have been made stronger through more details or applied examples. It follows the basic format that most intro texts cover-- it starts with big themes and theories, and then proceeds to contemporary issues. The chapter on Pax Americana is also about security. It is mostly up to date and relevant. I appreciate the editor's note indicating that these items were sacrificed in order to produce a free text, but I feel there were some extremely low- or no-cost ways of enhancing the text that would have been beneficial. Unfortunately, its relevance (like the relevance of so many political science textbooks) will take a hit due to the global pandemic. You must sign in to add this item to your wishlist. There is one chapter about "culture and religion" (which, first of all, each deserve there own attention) which tells us nothing about how cultural diversity impacts international relations. Stephen McGlinchey has brought together a fantastic collection of authors who together present a wide-ranging, critical and accessible introduction to International Relations.

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