support open access publishing. 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. The narrative arc forms a complete circle, taking readers from no knowledge to competency. The book contains no links, pictures, charts, graphs, or visuals at all--even where the addition of these materials could help students using the text. Unfortunately, in spite of the fact that the book is less than a year old, some sections are already debatably in need of updating (particularly Ch. This book is not that. The editor himself argues that the text should be read in order in the "Getting Started Section.". The text is quite self-referential at first. 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. I agree that it reflects views more common among European scholars than in the USA. The textbook reads easily. 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. Every major facet of IR is covered in clearly written terms. There was nothing at all offensive about this book, but people should be aware that it is a European-worldview IR text. 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. Not all do, however. It would be nice if clicking on a chapter title or page number in the table of contents took you to the chapter. The textbook is inaccurate mostly because it's separate chapters allow each author to condense huge topics into a very short space. He has sipped tea in . Because the text is so theory heavy and includes almost no examples, this might prevent it from seeming out of date quickly. Greater effort to align the discussion within Part Twos chapters to the basic themes elaborated in Part One might have improved the books organization. Foundations of International Relations Stephen McGlinchey (Volume Editor) Paperback $61.99 $55.79 Hardback $190.00 $171.00 Quantity In stock $55.79 RRP $61.99 Website price saving $6.20 (10%) Add to basket Add to wishlist Delivery and returns info Flat rate of $7.50 for shipping anywhere in Australia 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 Again, the quality of the prose varies from chapter to chapter. Examples are drawn from different parts of the world. The book is clearly organized based on the priorities of the authors: this means that it is theory heavy up front, features one completely inadequate chapter about "culture," and then presents a series of "issues" to bring IR into the real world. Reviewed by Xiaowen Zhang, Associate Professor, Augustana College on 7/17/19, A wide range of topics are covered. The chapter on protecting people is really about war and civil war presented in a novel way. The approachability of the text and relevant case studies will leave students with the tools needed to understand and analyse international events. Stephen Hill, Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, University of Edinburgh, UK, Registered Office: 50 Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3DP. The book fits clearly into the authors' pedagogy. Minor errors are rare (I caught two). The most recent emergence of the IR world Post Trump is the addressed in this text,especially with respect to the recent threats to NATO. I did not find any obvious grammatical errors in the text. The field therefore encompasses a diverse array of topics, from the causes of war to the politics of development, from international institutions . 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. These text's underlying theme (obvious though never explicitly stated) is that of globalization as a cause of peace. I saw no problems with cultural insensitivity or exclusion of any group. I understand that IR is interdisciplinary and rooted in the arts and humanities, but I also think that IR can be presented in a straight-forward and clinical way that makes reading and writing on the topic simple and accessible. In the first case he examines efforts to regulate and prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, including the recent case of Iran. At worst, it works against the basic goal of the course-- to show that the scholarly study of IR is useful. This edited volume provides a comprehensive yet not so well integrated coverage of the issues and theories that define the international relations field today. Part One provides excellent, succinct overviews of the fundamentals, or basics, of the field, while Part Two delves into specific global issues of contemporary importance. It was very well researched and proofed. The organization, structure, and flow of the text are effective, and assigning the sections in a different order would not be detrimental to this. 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. He then explicates how the resulting international system that is with us today operates and persists according to the post-war institutional framework for cooperation and conflict resolution. 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. It clearly covers all of the major themes, theories, concepts and trends in an extremely dynamic subject matters. Some of the other chapters did not seem as relevant and might have been better left to a textbook for a higher level IR course. read more. 4. The text is written in a very accessible way, and the various authors do a good job of explaining terms fully in the text. However, there is not much on IR theory. It would also enhance its teaching ability. Critical Theories Stephen McGlinchey, Rosie Walters and Dana Gold, 8. International Organisations Shazelina Z. Abidin Reviewed by Abigail Post, Assistant Professor of Political Science and National Security, Anderson University on 12/4/20, I would not classify this as a comprehensive text of introductory international relations. Introduction to International Relations Stephen McGlinchey, 2. International Relations and the Global System Stephen McGlinchey I begins with basics of defining key terms and the historical context of IR. Combined with the lack of finding aids, I think the lack of interface would frustrate some students. Would you like to go to the United Kingdom site? Raffaele Marchetti is a Professor of International Relations at LUISS. The book appears accurate, but with so few citations, it's quite hard to know the perspectives of the authors of each chapter. Indeed, the accessible and conversational, yet informative and interesting, narrative style serves to distinguish the text from other introductory IR textbooks. Why should we not be asking them to understand challenging terms? No major comments. An engaging introduction to the core concepts, theories, actors and issues in global politics. They begin with a helpful introduction to the particular use of terms in IR theory, then proceed to define each of the traditional theories of liberalism and realism that have long dominated the discipline. In addition, a complete version of an earlier edition of this book from 2017 is available free on E-International Relations though note the 2017 version does not have the full range of chapters, or features, of the 2022 version. Helpful subheadings throughout. 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. Realism in Waltz's view was severely limited, as where other classic disciplines of international relations. Some teaching cases embedded in the chapters were sufficiently historical, so they are won't need updating anytime soon. It seems that the editor chose breath over depth. Additionally, the the subject of diplomacy itself was not explained very well or in much depth before the chapter went into quite a bit of detail covering nuclear proliferation, which seems to me to be something that should be discussed after basic concepts are covered. The chapter on Pax Americana is also about security. I think this book will work well alongside other materials. A glossary might be helpful. Individual chapters also work as standalone pieces, thereby facilitating easy addition (or removal) of chapters on particular global issues, if required. Environment and Climate Raul Pacheco-Vega Robbie Shilliam is a Professor of International Relations at Johns Hopkins University. provide students of international relations a broad and substantive introduction to the discipline. In a couple of rare instances, the simplified presentation might be construed as inaccurate or, at least, controversial. The text did not appear to have major grammatical errors. Anitta Kynsilehto is a Senior Research Fellow at Tampere Peace Research Institute, Tampere University. At best, this organization is a missed opportunity. CENTER FOR OPEN EDUCATION | The Open Education Network is based in the Center for Open Education in the University of Minnesotas College of Education and Human Development. In addition, the chapter on the making of the modern world suggests that the European colonies copied the European ideas of how to run a country. read more. Seems mostly fine although some chapters reference current events, which will be outdated at some point. read more. 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. However, the book is written, as it says in the intro, not to be broken up or only have selections assigned. An engaging introduction to the core concepts, theories, actors and issues in global politics. 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. While some individual chapters might appear biased toward a particular lens (e.g., a US- or Western-centric view of the world), other chapters present contrasting perspectives, thereby according the book with a semblance of overall balance. Overall, very comprehensive for an introductory textbook. 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. For example, the chapter on diplomacy calls the reaction of common alarm in response to the development of nuclear weapons in a previously non-nuclear state a norm (p.25). The edited volume captures the relevant debates in IR and provides an overall view of open topics in a manner to insuniate longer term discussion. The text has a strong internal consistency. This book is designed to be a Day 0' introduction to International Relations. 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. For example, traditional Realists remain adamant that actors are individuals in international affairs, referencing . 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). Shazelina Z. Abidin contributes the sixth chapter, on International Organizations. It follows the basic format that most intro texts cover-- it starts with big themes and theories, and then proceeds to contemporary issues. Hardcover. The chapter on Pax Americana is also about security. International Relations, Stephen McGlinchy, ed. Reviewed by Elissa Alzate, Associate Professor, Winona State University on 6/19/18, The first section of the book, "The Basics," did not cover the basics in as much detail as I would have liked to see. bandwidth bills to ensure we keep our existing titles free to view. read more. Levels of Analysis Carmen Gebhard This is a decent textbook. I worry that assigning this text might teach bad writing habits. This is more telling of the state of the IR curriculum, rather than the critique of the text per se. Some chapters tie the conversation to broader debates in IR better than others. in action, as part of a "doing" in and on the world. 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. McGlitchys volume is comprehensive thematically, but certain sections would have benefited from deeper and more sustained analysis, for instance in the section on International Relations Theory. An engaging introduction to the core concepts, theories, actors and issues in global politics. I did not see any factual errors. This innovative and well-written textbook takes students on an exciting historical, theoretical, geographical and thematic journey of International Relations. Insofar as the chapters construct the fundamental building blocks of IR, the book is internally consistent. Many reviewers have noted that the book doesn't talk about war. This is good for a smarter, more experienced reader, but it's a problem for most novice readers. This course provides a broad introduction to the study of international relations. An immensely user-friendly introduction to International Relations, replete with diagrams, maps, illustrations and helpful summaries of the material covered. Same as above comment in "modularity". Foundations of International Relations is a wonderfully rich, yet highly accessible, introduction to International Relations, both as a subject and as a discipline. 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. I believe this is because book is more of a reader with many scholars focusing on a specific area of IR. The grammar is fine. A Practical Introduction to Regression Discontinuity Designs Foundations Part of Elements in Quantitative and Computational Methods for the Social Sciences Authors: Matias D. Cattaneo, Princeton University, New Jersey Nicols Idrobo, University of Pennsylvania Roco Titiunik, Princeton University, New Jersey Date Published: February 2020 On this, it does relatively well. The emphasis on concepts rather than smaller current event make it last for several years before needing re-edition. Peter Vale is a Senior Fellow at the Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria, and Nelson Mandela Professor of Politics Emeritus at Rhodes University. Authors might also have been encouraged to recommend further reading or links to online resources related to each chapter. The philosophy underpinning this book is that these things can be a distraction. For examples, the authors used the trite writing crutch: It is important. Several of the authors used contractions (didn't, isn't, etc. Additionally, visualizations offer an opportunity to discuss how data is used, often erroneously, by the media or government. The textbook is up-to-date. But the book refuses to use "buzzwords" like "globalization" because the authors Featuring a combination of chapters authored by leading scholars, researchers and practitioners from around the world, 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. Consistency in terms of chapter format, however, is lacking. Choose your preferred format. Carmen Gebhard provides an introduction to the levels of analysis method of international relations theorizing. I did not notice any typos, but the authors used informal/casual writing that I ban my undergraduates from using. The book is also complimented by a bespoke curated website, featuring a regularly updated collection of interactive learning material and hosted on E-International Relations, the world's leading open access IR website.Portraying the most compelling issues of our time, and presenting the necessary tools to analyse and debate the subject, this is an invaluable resource for anyone studying international relations. Stephen McGlinchey has brought together a fantastic collection of authors who together present a wide-ranging, critical and accessible introduction to International Relations. The book is accurate and error-free. Thus, most likely they should be assigned as a combined reading block. The chapter then employs each theoretical framework to assess by the lights of each theory, respectively, the United Nations. It's great to have two main parts (i.e., the basics and global issues, respectively), and 18 chapters can be easily covered in a semester by instructors' own class schedules. Possibly, below stuffs can be added: democratic peace theory, capitalist peace theory, domestic audience costs, power transition theory, etc. As this book is published by Bloomsbury who have invested a substantial sum in producing the book to such a high quality E-International Relations is unable to offer a free-to-download version of the full book. Peter Sutch, Professor of Political and International Theory, Cardiff University, UK. The prose is lucid and accessible. organization of the edited volume seems to be all over the place. A Court of Thorns and Roses Paperback Box Set, Teachers, Librarians, Parents & Caregivers. 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. 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, compared to other introduction to International Relations textbooks, the treatment of conflict and explanations of war is not as comprehensive as I would need for an Introduction to IR course. Part Two, on the other hand, can come across as a set of issues put together in no particular order. I would not classify this as a comprehensive text of introductory international relations. Overall, very comprehensive for an introductory textbook. 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. This volume offers a comprehensive evaluation of the concept of global order, with a particular emphasis on the role of regional organisations within global governance institutions such as the United Nations. Thus, not necessarily a critical issue. $34.52 - $40.95 Other new and used from $30.55. Stephen Hill, Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, University of Edinburgh, UK, Registered Office: 1385 Broadway, Fifth Floor, New York, NY 10018 USA. My biggest issue with the interface is that there is none. Reviewed by Peter Funke, Associate Professor, University of South Florida on 3/27/18, While comprehensiveness is not achievable, this edited volume covers main areas of the field. It underlines the need to tie theoretical foundations together in daily politics with the practical problems that arise around us. One thing I'd like to see is more attention to key concepts in the first few chapters. The chapters offer a broad sweep of the basic components of International Relations and the key contemporary issues that concern the discipline. An immensely user-friendly introduction to International Relations, replete with diagrams, maps, illustrations and helpful summaries of the material covered. The text is largely inclusive, and the individual authors are representative of the global nature of the discipline. The chapter then takes up hybrid organizations examining the ways in which certain agencies cooperate with formally collaborate with governments throughout the world. They will find it challenging and rewarding in equal measure. $130.00 Other new and used from $119.08.