The textbook does not provide and index or glossary, International Relations is an edited volume that attempts to cover all of the common themes in an introduction to IR course. Even having authors use bold font for key terms would facilitate student learning. Insofar as the chapters construct the fundamental building blocks of IR, the book is internally consistent. Anthony F Lang, Professor of International Political Theory, University of St Andrews, UK. It follows the basic format that most intro texts cover-- it starts with big themes and 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. Reviewed by Robert Asaadi, Instructor, Portland State University on 1/27/22, Part One of the text lays out the basic building blocks that one would expect to find in an introductory international relations textbook, and then in Part Two the authors compellingly explore these concepts across a wide range of relevant global The textbook does not provide and index or glossary, I think each chapter is very well organized. The book is very comprehensive. The content is up-to-date and incorporates both canonical and contemporary case studies in its explication of the material. Critical Approaches to International Relations - Brill Every major facet of IR is covered in clearly written terms. Thus, most likely they should be assigned as a combined reading block. Supported by helpful case studies, key insights and key term features, the book will enable its readers to navigate the complexities of global politics. In the first case he examines efforts to regulate and prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, including the recent case of Iran. Mostly yes, materials are clearly written. International Relations (17 reviews) Stephen McGlinchey, University of the West of England Copyright Year: 2016 ISBN 13: 9781910814185 Publisher: E-International Relations Language: English Formats Available PDF Conditions of Use Attribution-NonCommercial CC BY-NC Reviews Learn more about reviews. 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. A massively open online course on international relations which applies formal models to important issues in the world today. 16. International relations is a field of study that has many different theories about how to approach and understand international relations. They move into the so-called middle ground (their phrase) in assessing the consequence of the English School of IR theory, before examining Constructivism. I think the aspects that are current could easily be updated without a complete overhaul of the book. The topics are presented in a very logical and clear fashion. Conference on International Politics, May 7-8, 1954 Appendix 2. Again, it is difficult with an edited volume to make sure everyone is on the same page in terms of terminology, but the editor did a great job of ensuring that the terms and ideas were used consistently across the chapters. As I have said in previous comments, the first chapter is quite insensitive, but others are much more inclusive. I saw no problems with cultural insensitivity or exclusion of any group. Despite these efforts, there remains much scope for further diversity: even as case illustrations from the Global South are present, Western examples still form the majority. This book, like others in the E-IR Foundations series, is designed to capture attention with an engaging narrative. 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.). As a branch of the Middle East-based Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), ISIL-Khorasan (ISIL-K) emerged in late 2014 in southern and eastern Afghanistan. Other chapters were not as accessible. 7. Levels of Analysis Carmen Gebhard In general, the book presents accurate accounts of the key themes in IR, from a range of perspectives. 1. This book is not worth using just because it is open access. Jindal Global University. Highly relevant, but, of course, the most recent IR events (e.g., the evolution of US foreign policy during the Trump and the Biden Administrations, etc.) There were no major issues. Theories of International Relations - Study.com it does not flow very well. As it stands the textbook would require some effort to divide into readable chunks for assignments. Supported by helpful case studies, key insights and key term features, the book will enable its readers to navigate the complexities of global politics. If you would prefer an eBook and it is not displayed below, please visit our exam copies page. This is a strong point. No index but you can search as it is available electronically. This is a decent textbook. He has sipped tea in . One thing I liked about a few of the chapters was the attempt to incorporate new and non-traditional theories of IR, e.g. From broader and theoretical debates to issue areas. Religion and Culture John A. Rees I found some of the chapters to be written in an incredibly simple way, beneficial for introductory students. Each chapter sets out the basics of a theory whilst also applying it to a real-world event or issue, creating a lively, readable and relevant guide that will help students to see not only what theories are - but why they matter. The grammar is fine. I look forward to adopting this book in the Spring- while there are some issues with the ability to design a course around it (ie the text itself isn't flexible to starting from a different point than the text does), I believe it is worth the effort. It would be nice if clicking on a chapter title or page number in the table of contents took you to the chapter. There are no interface errors, but the book is entirely page after page of similar-looking text. 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. Key Theories of International Relations - Norwich University 6. The book is presented as a beginner's guide to International Relations and in this way is comprehensive in its presentation of basic issues relevant to the subject. Of course, I have already begun researching supplemental material in the form of pictures, graphs, weblinks to supplement this outstanding reading. 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. Each chapter is very short and can be assigned at different points within the course. Each write in this book obviously bring considerable in depth, current knowledge about the special subject in IR. Any Peter Vale's chapter with personal reflections on the field of IR would make a good starting chapter for a course in lieu of the 1st chapter of this book. In this sense, I don't think that the book is written in a way that's appropriate for a first-year student being introduced to a topic. While the basic information conveyed in each chapter will remain relevant, I would want to know the editor's intentions for updating the text before implementing it in a course. The jargon and technical terminology used is clearly defined in language accessible to our students. Reviewed by Alexis Henshaw, Visiting Assistant Professor, Miami University on 6/20/17, 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. The instructor would have to find creative ways to do any practical exercises, and this seems like way too much work when much better texts exist. The fourth chapter, which introduces international relations theory, is co-authored by Dana Gold and Stephen McGlitchy. It misses some key components, the most obvious being interstate and intrastate war. The 2016 free edition can be used as a textbook but the textbook has been updated, but the update is no longer free. The writing is extraordinarily free of jargon and the international relations vocabulary that is generally used in IR textbooks. Power and Foreign Policy in International Relations: O.P. Stephen McGlinchey is a Senior Lecturer in Interna. The Eurocentric nature of the first chapter (albeit, with a degree of self-awareness from the author) can be transformed to offer a more global perspective as the books foundational stone. This book is designed as a foundational entry point to International Relations theory. Katherine E. Brown is a Senior Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the University of Birmingham. Although the book lacks an index, as the editor noted as being too costly to compile. Textbooks are never the most gripping reading, but even with advanced knowledge of the material in the book I found it fairly compelling, particularly because of the focus in the second half of the book on global issues. It does well in covering traditional, enduring, and emerging issues and problems in international This seems like an inappropriate stance, as many beginners may be studying IR precisely to better understand such words. The chapter on Pax Americana is also about security. Reviewed by Michelle Allendoerfer, Assistant Professor, The George Washington University on 12/17/20, The book covers a very wide and comprehensive set of topics in a concise way. You have been logged out of your account. There have not been a lot if any mention of contributions of non-western thinkers and scholars to the field of IR. I will, unfortunately, not be adopting this text as I had hoped. This is ridiculously boring and very far out of touch from how students actually learn. Such care for a student text has not been taken for a very long time. bandwidth bills to ensure we keep our existing titles free to view. It was not clear to me whether or how the publishers plan to update this text. 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. We'll see exactly how much effort is required when I begin developing the syllabus for next semester. 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. It clearly covers all of the major themes, theories, concepts and trends in an extremely dynamic subject matters. This book is, for all intents and purposes, a series of smart introductory lectures. Best International Relations Courses [2023] | Coursera 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. Foundations of International Relations is a wonderfully rich, yet highly accessible, introduction to International Relations, both as a subject and as a discipline. Stephen Chan OBE, Professor of World Politics, SOAS University of London, UK. Aside from these exceedingly rare instances, the book has undergone a thorough editing and proofing process, thereby minimizing distraction from the content. 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. It underlines the need to tie theoretical foundations together in daily politics with the practical problems that arise around us. 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 book covers a very wide and comprehensive set of topics in a concise way. It misses some key components, the most obvious being interstate and intrastate war. It begins with some history, quickly moves to theory, and then surveys issues. Reviewed by Doga Eralp, Professorial Lecturer, American University on 2/1/18, 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 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. read more. 18. The Moral Issue in International Relations, by Reinhold Niebuhr Appendix 4. International Relations Theory and Areas of Choice in Foreign Policy, by William T. R. Fox There was nothing at all offensive about this book, but people should be aware that it is a European-worldview IR text. 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). I would also like to have seen each chapter end with a brief Further Reading list for students interested in the topic of the chapter, particularly since the main chapters in the first section are quite short. I did not see any problems with errors or bias. The first 3-4 chapters were too interconnected. The book tries admirably to include many perspectives and address issues of global relevance. This is particularly key for an international relations textbook with such a heavy emphasis on current world affairs. In conclusion, the text McGlincheys introductory level International Relations volume is clear, and the writing is well edited. 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. Between Theory and Practice: The Utility of International Relations As mentioned previously, the inclusion pre-state history that focus on Europe only, makes one wonder about areas outside of Europe. Potential users may want to be aware that the text is designed to flow in a certain order, so in most cases rearranging chapters out-of-order would not be advised. The language is inconsistent and calls for a major revision to keep the use of terminology and frameworks the same across all the chapters. The treatment of the various topics integrates both historical and contemporary cases in a way that makes it relevant without too tied to the publication date. 19. The historical context given to today's political world is also a bit shaky. in that respect it accomplishes a decent job; however, in terms of complementarity of chapters with one and another, it clearly fails. This book is designed to be a Day 0' introduction to International Relations. Realism in Waltz's view was severely limited, as where other classic disciplines of international relations. The book lacks clearly written definitions of terms (e.g. In my introductory course, I tend to delve a bit deeper into a number of issues, but this textbook overall provides a good framework to build those discussions off of. While the text provides a good picture of the field overall, each chapter covers a distinct topic or issue and stands on its own. 4. Instead, taking international practices seriously spells out the many faces of world politics, including power and security, trade and finance, strategy, institutions and organizations, resources, knowledge and discourse, etc. 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. It is truly attentive to the multiplicity of (state and non-state) actors in global politics, as well as non-Western approaches. Overall, very comprehensive for an introductory textbook. I don't think it has culturally offensive parts. International Relations Theory - E-International Relations As it stands the textbook is rather fragmented. 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. Yes, they provide accurate information and I could not find misinformation. An engaging introduction to the core concepts, theories, actors and issues in global politics. It covers the UN system, legal treaties, intergovernmental and the global organizations that since the Second World War have provided for the international legal regime we now enjoy. Zo Jay, Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, University of Tasmania, Australia. Your School account is not valid for the United Kingdom site. Being able to point to good visualizations (charts, in particular) in the textbook would be much more of a strength than a distraction. The book is well put together and I found no issues in regards to consistency in terminology or framework. With a diverse set of authors and chapters covering topics including race, colonialism, gender, sexuality, digital globalization, the environment and security studies, this textbook takes into account the historical development of International Relations and the web of dynamics that forms the subject, resulting in a clear analysis of the field from a variety of perspectives. However, when combining various chapters from parts 1 and 2, the reading assignments are coherent. The first section of the book, "The Basics," did not cover the basics in as much detail as I would have liked to see. Greater effort to align the discussion within Part Twos chapters to the basic themes elaborated in Part One might have improved the books organization. The content is accurate and given the general relevance of the text to the subjects covered the text should enjoy a fair degree of longevity. An engaging introduction to the core concepts, theories, actors and issues in global politics. Actually, students would even appreciate the fact that IR scholars may have distinctive views/perspectives on historical/current events in IR. Clare Stevens is a Teaching Fellow in International Security with the Portsmouth Military Education team at the University of Portsmouth. More focused and comprehensive discussion of 20th century cases, especially WWI, WWII, and the Cold War, would be useful, at least for American students. Natalie Jester is a Lecturer in Sociology and Criminology at the University of Gloucestershire. Again, the quality of the prose varies from chapter to chapter. Migration Anitta Kynsilehto Global Health Mukesh Kapila Reviewed by Michael McNeal, Adjunct Instructor, Metropolitan State University of Denver on 10/24/19, See review pasted into the text window below. Supported by helpful case studies, key insights and key term features, the book will enable its readers to navigate the complexities of global politics. read more. technology, food) and the short A wide range of topics are covered. The book covers a very wide and comprehensive set of topics in a concise way. Given the inherently interdisciplinary nature of the academic field of International Relations (IR), any textbook on the subject is bound to be lacking in some aspects. The core strength of this textbook is the clarity it brings to explaining the many concepts and theories that make up International Relations it introduces students to the nuance and complexity of the field in an exciting and accessible way. It is not unbiased; the book is extremely Eurocentric. The book is accurate and error-free. Before you download your free e-book, please consider donating to Managing Global Security Beyond Pax Americana'. Since I use introductory courses to introduce students to basic research and citations procedures, I like texts that are very good at this. The Invention of International Relations Theory: Realism, the - JSTOR 13. A Court of Thorns and Roses Paperback Box Set. The author begins with the UN and moves through a clear description of the forms governmental organizations take, their geographical limitations, and their various aims are examined. While comprehensiveness is not achievable, this edited volume covers main areas of the field. This is incorrect. Findings - . Dozen of ways to do it but it follows a somewhat standard approach. read more. 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. The 1954 Conference on International Politics reveals a deep concern with the interrelations among international relations (IR) theory, the practice of foreign policy, and morality. The text builds on foundational case studies and then applies this knowledge to the contemporary period. This product is usually dispatched within 1 week, Free US delivery on orders $35 or over. Yet another compilation of IR chapters from a very western oriented set of authors. However, it could have included more non-Western perspectives/examples. I suppose that faculty members adopting this book can create their own glossaries and materials. Obviously, I am excited about using this book to teach my class in International Relations. 1. The first 4 chapters are really foundational for the rest of IR and the rest of the topics in the book, but the information is very cursory. Since the 1970s the study of international relations has been marked by a renewed debate about the relationship between structures and institutions in international systems. The author avoids jargon and presents the ideas in a way that I think undergraduates would find compelling and accessible. The chapter on the internet and devices includes examples from many countries, giving students a wider perspective on the world. For example, traditional Realists remain adamant that actors are individuals in international affairs, referencing . Foundations of International Relations is a wonderfully rich, yet highly accessible, introduction to International Relations, both as a subject and as a discipline. Your donations allow us to invest in new open access titles and pay our Bringing down the number of chapters would also help in fitting the text into a standard 15 week semester long classes (at least in North America). Its underlying, yet subtle, theme is that of globalization, and globalization has taken a hit with the pandemic. Readers can infer definitions from context, however. The Invention of International Relations Theory I appreciate the readability of the book. This course provides a broad introduction to the study of international relations. As mentioned above, I appreciate that the book acknowledges the ways that IR as a discipline traditionally takes a Western approach. The book is very comprehensive. The chapter on protecting people is really about war and civil war presented in a novel way. As is such works contribute to the domination of western thinking in international politics. Stephen McGlinchey has brought together a fantastic collection of authors who together present a wide-ranging, critical and accessible introduction to International Relations. However, the book is written, as it says in the intro, not to be broken up or only have selections assigned. In all, I like this book, but it could have been made better with a few tweaks. Helpful subheadings throughout. As is chapters do not necessarily follow each other. Indeed, the accessible and conversational, yet informative and interesting, narrative style serves to distinguish the text from other introductory IR textbooks. It would be great if at least the issue chapters in the second part are written under the same framework. But the book refuses to use "buzzwords" like "globalization" because the authors Introduction to International Relations - Stephen McGlinchey PART ONE: HISTORY AND THEORY 2. International Relations and the Global System - Stephen McGlinchey 3. This book covers an impressive range of topics. Same as above comment in "modularity". I did not identify any factual inaccuracies, although I would have liked more frequent citations. The writers of each chapter appear to cover all of the themes that have been traditionally a part of IR and frankly have made major steps in incorporating today's issues as such connectivity, technology and cyberissues, terrorism, religion and culture factors, climate and environmental and the emergence of new power bases in Asia and the Mideast. Students are brought on an engaging intellectual journey through a range of contending perspectives and issues, whilst being encouraged to think critically throughout. there is a number of redundant discussions along with a lack of integration of different topics. 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. There are no major presentation errors in the book. 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. It didn't bother me. You have been logged out of your account. There were no navigation problems (the table of contents was accurate). Please sign in or create an account. Hardcover. The book seems up to date, including citations from 2015. The basics Of IR are covered and most modern global Issues are addressed. It's simply natural and not an issue at all. There are some basic style issues for some of the authors, though. Most, but not all, chapters are designed to first briefly introduce the topic or concept, followed by illustrative cases to help the readers comprehension. On this, it does relatively well. Chapters make effective use of section headings and the text is easily and readily divisible. I believe it is because the editor did not set out a clear organizing theme for the test. Would you like to go to the United States site? As of this reviewing no major grammatical issues detected. 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. I thought the chapters on the environment and food security were Critical Approaches to International Relations: Philosophical Foundations and Current Debates explores the achievements of a wide variety of critical approaches in International Relations theory, discusses the barrage of criticism and.