Introduction to Global Politics - Softcover

Mansbach, Richard W.; Taylor, Kirsten L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415782724 ISBN 13: 9780415782722

Publisher: Routledge, 2011

Synopsis

Fully revised and updated, the second edition of Introduction to Global Politics places an increased emphasis on the themes of continuity and change. It continues to explain global politics using an historical approach, firmly linking history with the events of today. By integrating theory and political practice at individual, state, and global levels, students are introduced to key developments in global politics, helping them make sense of major trends that are shaping our world.

This is a highly illustrated textbook with informative and interactive boxed material throughout. Chapter opening timelines contextualise the material that follows, and definitions of key terms are provided in a glossary at the end of the book. Every chapter ends with student activities, cultural materials, and annotated suggestions for further reading that now include websites.

Key updates for this edition:

• New chapter on 'The causes of war and the changing nature of violence in global politics'
• New chapter on 'Technology and global politics'
• Enhanced coverage of theory including post-positivist theories
• Uses ‘levels of analysis’ framework throughout the text
• New material on the financial crisis, BRIC and Iran

Introduction to Global Politics continues to be essential reading for students of political science, global politics and international relations.

About this title

About the Author:

Richard W. Mansbach is Professor of Political Science at Iowa State University, USA. He is a former editor of International Studies Quarterly, Marshall Scholar, and three-times Fulbright Scholar.

Kirsten L. Rafferty is Assistant Professor of Government and International Studies at Berry College (Mount Berry, GA), USA.

Review:

‘A solid volume for either one or two semester introductory courses in International Politics. Aimed at today’s students, who need a text with significant historical background and demand consideration of contemporary problems, Introduction to Global Politics delivers the basics and much more. With its useful timelines, attention-getting boxes, rich array of excerpts from key documents, and such a thorough discussion of contemporary issues as to make a supplementary work unnecessary, this text warrants serious consideration.’ - Joseph R. Rudolph, Jr., Towson University, USA

‘Introduction to Global Politics is a first rate text. It is exhaustive in its coverage of issues and ideas, extremely well informed by history and theory and also engagingly written and produced. Mansbach and Taylor have produced one of the best books on the market.’ - Nick Bisley, La Trobe University, Australia

‘The publication of the first edition of Introduction to Global Politics gave students of International Relations a textbook that approached global politics and events and themes using the analytical perspectives and frameworks that underpin the discipline of International relations. Thus, in one textbook, students gained not only an historical/political grounding, but also an understanding of the uses and practice of theory and analysis and the different interpretations of events that result with different frameworks of analysis. This new edition continues this approach, with the same lucid, but lively, writing style and crystal clear explanations of theory and analysis, utilising both historical and contemporary political examples to illuminate and make more relevant the analysis. The changes in this edition reflect the changes in today’s world, identifying and scrutinizing the major issues and themes, and thus equipping students with both the analytical tools and the knowledge that they need to successfully analyse global politics.’ - Caroline Page, Coventry University, UK

‘Mansbach and Taylor expertly explain today's global political challenges in historical and cultural context, helping students to understand the alternative approaches to dealing with conflict, and to building cooperation, that human societies have imagined and attempted. Global politics emerge from these pages not as a static set of constraints and imperatives, but as a dynamic, ever-changing, multi-dimensional reality -- a world in which ideas, identities, interests, and institutions are constantly evolving. This is a world in which individuals have the capacity to change the realities which are shaping their lives, a world in which knowledge and understanding open doors to new possibilities.’ - Edward Rhodes, George Mason University, USA

‘Theory, history, and current issues are masterfully woven together in this important new book.

The authors' excellent use of vivid real-life examples, figures, pictures, timelines and sideboxes, all serve to illustrate theoretical concepts in a way that will grab the attention of undergraduate and graduate students alike; and with its thought-provoking discussion and essay questions, this textbook virtually teaches itself. A major contribution to the learning and understanding of globalization, this book is evidence that globalization studies have truly come into their own.’ - Ersel Aydinli, Bilkent University, Turkey

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0415782724
• ISBN 13: 9780415782722
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 632