The Big Picture as an Approach to the Study of International Relations
Thinking With and Beyond Barry Buzan
Will be published approx. on 31. March 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
300 pages
978-1-009-58034-2 (ISBN)
Description
Barry Buzan is one of Europe's most prolific scholars of international relations, renowned for his interdisciplinary collaborations and commitment to making complex ideas accessible. This volume features a detailed analysis of his practiced 'big picture' approach and its value to the international relations discipline, as well as related social science disciplines. It starts with an explication of the intellectual project of Barry Buzan over his long career, the development of his thinking in relation to the big picture, and the style of research he engages in. The contributors then use this as a stepping stone to reflect on the broader value of the big picture approach, taking their point of departure in five scholarly fields: international relations theory, the English School, world history, international security studies and international political economy. In a concluding chapter, Barry Buzan reflects on the undertaking and the path forward.
Reviews / Votes
'Big picture, long view. Sturdy frames, familiar themes, a fresh sensibility. All this in a spacious, well-lit gallery, exhibiting some of Barry Buzan's ablest admirers. And then there's the old master himself, on yet another grand mission to reimagine International Relations.' Nicholas Onuf, Professor Emeritus, Florida International UniversityMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
466 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-009-58034-2 (9781009580342)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Rita Floyd | Laust Schouenborg
The Big Picture as an Approach to the Study of International Relations
Thinking With and Beyond Barry Buzan
Book
approx. 03/2026
Cambridge University Press
€125.60
Not yet published
Persons
Content
Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction Rita Floyd and Laust Schouenborg; Part I. The Big Picture and International Relations Theory: 2. The role and structure of theory in big picture historical theorizing Ole Waever; 3. The big picture as a goodbye to international relations? Mathias Albert; 4. Big picture ethics? Why normativity is unavoidable in the big picture John Williams; Part II. The Big Picture and International Society: 5. World society: from analytical dustbin to master concept of international relations? Robert Falkner; 6. A big picture of the standard of civilisation: what is in there, what not, and why it matters Filippo Costa Buranelli; Part III. The Big Picture and Global History: 7. The biggest picture: macro-history, grand theory and international relations Ayse Zarakol; 8. Big pictures in shallow frames: international relations and the challenge of anthropological history Inanna Hamati-Ataya; 9. International society as an historical subject: the bigger picture Cornelia Navari; Part IV. The Big Picture and Security Studies: 10. Securitization theories: big picture theorizing vs. 1:1 mapping Rita Floyd; 11. Mapping the globe: the ambiguities of regional security complex theory Thomas Diez and R. Emre Midilli; Part V. The Big Picture and International Political Economy: 12. Re-viewing IPE's western-centric understanding of the global economy through big picture analysis John M. Hobson; 13. Historical foundations for global IPE Eric Helleiner; 14. Capital Markets and the global international system Louis W. Pauly; Part VI. Conclusion: 15. Reflections on the big picture approach Barry Buzan; Index.