Understanding International Politics

How did today’s international systems emerge, and how are they shaped by war, unequal development and international cooperation?

How do individuals, firms, international organisations, and nation states operate within these systems?

How can students apply theories of global politics using real-world examples?

Understanding International Politics offers a comprehensive and accessible guide to the key systems, actors, and issues of international politics. It covers core concepts and questions for political study, and presents a ‘toolkit’ that enables students to apply theory and historical context in independent research. This introduction frames complex international systems coherently by focusing on political players, and, as a single-authored work, delivers a consistent critical approach throughout.

This authoritative and clearly organised textbook offers:

• Contemporary examples and case-studies for approaching international relations from the perspective of its actors
• ‘How to’ guides, including methods for constructing an argument, conducting analysis, and preparing a policy brief
• Companion digital resources for both students and lecturers, including lecture slides, a testbank, role-play exercises, and discussion materials, adaptable to various class sizes
• A thorough grounding in Marxist, feminist and postcolonial perspectives, as well as more traditional viewpoints