International Politics

by Robert J. Art

International Enduring Concepts and Contemporary Issues has been helping students understand the dynamics of international relations for fifty years. Readings by leading scholars on essential topics illustrate fundamental debates and differing points of view for a comprehensive and engaging overview of the discipline, while introducing readers to the major forces shaping the world today. The fourteenth edition continues the book’s cornerstone approach of combining foundational theoretical works with recent perspectives on current problems, including a wealth of new material spread across each of the book’s four parts. The foundational material is organized to highlight the concept of anarchy in international relations and how matters of security, power, military force, international political economy, and strategic interactions influence patterns of cooperation and conflict. In additional to a focus on basic security and strategic problems, the politics of international commerce, and challenges facing the global economy, this edition also covers critical contemporary issues, including human rights, civil wars, intervention and peacekeeping, migration, cyber conflict, great power competition, climate change, energy transition, nuclear weapons, pandemic diplomacy, and changes in the political shape of the system writ large.

Genres: Politics, International Relations, Nonfiction, Political Science, History, Reference, Textbooks

632 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1984

Reviews

[Mayim de Vries · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid collection of canon readings in political sciences.

[Hossein Aghaie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without recourse to hyperbole, this is an IR bible, encapsulating a unique compilation of International Relations scholarship and works from Kenneth Waltz, Robert Jervis, Barry Buzan to new mover and shakers of the discipline. It is the most comprehensive coverage of important concepts, trends, and issues in international relation.

[Zach Opsitnick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating collection of essays and the editor really did a good job of tying everything together. Would definitely make a fine reference book.

[Elissa]

i suffered too much and read too many pages from this not to log it

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, memories. Re-reading this freshman poli-sci collection of essays that introduced me to the world of international political theory was a blast from the past. It's interesting to see how some things never change ("Offense, Defense, and the Security Dilemma"), others seem to come from a world long-gone - at least for now - ("Peace, Stability, and Nuclear Weapons"), and still others are purely academic in the face of my own real life experience ("Possible and Impossible Solutions to Ethnic Civil Wars"). One 1975 essay ("International Terrorism" by Brian M. Jenkins) was eerily prescient in its three specific predictions of the development of terrorism: the development of a worldwide terrorist organization (al Qaida), more extravagant attacks than the airline hijacking of the 70s (9/11), and the employment of terrorist groups as means of surrogate warfare (Iran and Hezbollah).

NOTE: Read the 6th edition (2003)

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I once used the 1973 version of this book as a text when I taught International Relations. As an edited volume, its individual entries introduce students to a wide array of key essay.

Part One focuses on the anarchic environment of world politics, and the implications for understanding the behavior of states. Part Two explores the use of force, including special emphasis on force in the nuclear era. Part Three considers imperliamism and its various explanations. The final segment looks to the future of world politics.

A fine, albeit dated, volume. . . .

[Bmojaddidi]

a bunch of political and informative articles.... an excellent read though some articles are biased towards some group of people or some religious ideologies...

[Star Shining Forever · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great collection of articles on various issues in International Relations.

[Robert Greer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Explains some interesting topics and theories without coming off as too bias. You have to be really interested in the subject matter to stay with it.

[Camden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too conservative but aood collection of a variety of essays, needs more post/anti-colonial, marxist, feminist essays though instead of (or maybe in addition to ) constructivism.