
Advanced Introduction to International Relations
Edward Elgar Publishing
Published on 30. May 2025
Book
Hardback
152 pages
978-1-0353-2874-1 (ISBN)
Description
Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences, business and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas.
This insightful Advanced Introduction presents a succinct overview of International Relations (IR), addressing contemporary issues, challenging assumptions, and critically examining the fundamental aspects of the field.
Benjamin de Carvalho and Halvard Leira showcase the diversity of IR by reconfiguring the theoretical traditions around empire, recurrence and science. They illustrate that, while the discipline has traditionally focused on state-to-state interactions, it now also includes non-state actors such as multinational companies, media platforms, autonomous or contested regions, influential individuals and international organizations. The book combines historical and theoretical accounts to emphasize the multifaceted nature of IR and reflect on how this can be used to explain the global issues of today.
Key Features:
Historicises current questions and challenges
Debunks mythologized accounts of global politics
Advocates for the centrality of borders to understanding IR
Students and scholars of IR, international politics, public policy and political economy will greatly benefit from this discerning Advanced Introduction.
This insightful Advanced Introduction presents a succinct overview of International Relations (IR), addressing contemporary issues, challenging assumptions, and critically examining the fundamental aspects of the field.
Benjamin de Carvalho and Halvard Leira showcase the diversity of IR by reconfiguring the theoretical traditions around empire, recurrence and science. They illustrate that, while the discipline has traditionally focused on state-to-state interactions, it now also includes non-state actors such as multinational companies, media platforms, autonomous or contested regions, influential individuals and international organizations. The book combines historical and theoretical accounts to emphasize the multifaceted nature of IR and reflect on how this can be used to explain the global issues of today.
Key Features:
Historicises current questions and challenges
Debunks mythologized accounts of global politics
Advocates for the centrality of borders to understanding IR
Students and scholars of IR, international politics, public policy and political economy will greatly benefit from this discerning Advanced Introduction.
Reviews / Votes
A fantastic introduction to International Relations for students and scholars alike. Deeply researched and beautifully written, a wonderful overview of the major debates and issues in the field.' -- Jelena Subotic, Georgia State University, USA 'International Relations' complexity makes introductions, let alone instruction, challenging. Enter IR's titanic duo, who come along to make scholars' and instructors' jobs much more manageable, and even enjoyable, again, with a clearly organized, substantively rich book useful for courses from the early undergraduate to advanced graduate levels.' -- Brent J Steele, University of Utah, USA 'Advanced Introduction to International Relations provides an insightful exploration of the dynamic and evolving field of International Relations (IR). The book skillfully combines historical perspectives with contemporary theoretical frameworks, encouraging readers to critically examine key concepts such as anarchy, sovereignty, and global power structures.' -- Oliver Kessler, University of Erfurt, Germany 'This is a book that moves away from US-centrism to introduce students around the world to the advances of the field of International Relations in recent decades... A massive achievement.' -- Ayse Zarakol, University of Cambridge, UKMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cheltenham
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 138 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-0353-2874-1 (9781035328741)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Benjamin de Carvalho, Research Professor in International Relations and Halvard Leira, Research Professor in International Relations and Research Director, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, Norway
Content
1 Introduction: making sense of our world
2 What is IR?
3 When is IR?
4 What we make of theory and what theory makes of us
5 IR theory is what anarchy makes of it
6 Anarchy is what IR theory makes of it
7 What we study: topics and subfields in IR
8 Conclusion: in defence of IR
Conclusion
Bibliography
2 What is IR?
3 When is IR?
4 What we make of theory and what theory makes of us
5 IR theory is what anarchy makes of it
6 Anarchy is what IR theory makes of it
7 What we study: topics and subfields in IR
8 Conclusion: in defence of IR
Conclusion
Bibliography