Global Politics in the 21st Century

Objective, critical, optimistic, and with a global focus, this textbook combines international relations theory, history, up-to-date research, and current affairs to give students a comprehensive, unbiased understanding of international politics. It integrates theory and traditional approaches with globalization and research on such topics as terrorism, new economic superpowers, and global communications and social networking to offer unusual breadth and depth for an undergraduate course. The text is enhanced by box features and 'Close Up' sections with context and further information; 'Critical Case Studies' highlighting controversial and complex current affairs that show how the world works in practice; and questions to stimulate discussion, review key concepts, and encourage further study. Unlike any other textbook, Global Politics in the 21st Century demonstrates the significance and interconnectivity of globalization and new security challenges in the twenty-first century and illuminates the role of leadership in transnational crises.

Preface; Acknowledgments; Detailed table of contents; Part I. Foundations of Global Politics: 1. Introduction to global politics; 2. Global history: the making of the twenty-first century; 3. Competing theories, methods, and intellectual debates about global politics; Part II. Institutions and Actors in Global Politics: 4. Modern states, power, leaders, and decisions in global politics; 5. The global system: great and middle powers; 6. Global governance in transition: international law and intergovernmental institutions; 7. Politics beyond the state I: non-state actors and communications; 8. Politics beyond the state II: identity – ethnicity, nationalism, and religion; Part III. Global Conflict and War: 9. War: causes, conduct, and consequences; 10. Civil wars, insurgencies, and counterinsurgencies; 11. Terrorism and counter-terrorism; Part IV. The Politics of Global Economics: 12. Global economics and governance; 13. Global inequality: winners and losers; Part V. Global Problems and Prospects: 14. Human rights: law, institutions, and abuses; 15. Global threats: environment, energy, demographic, and health issues; 16. Crises in global politics.

Dr Robert Jackson is the Fletcher Jones Professor of Government at the University of Redlands, California. He is a Senior Associate at St Antony's College and Visiting Fellow at the Changing Character of War Programme at the University of Oxford. He also holds the positions of Distinguished Research Professor of Political Science at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and Life Member/Visiting Fellow at Clare Hall and the Centre of International Studies, University of Cambridge. He has recently been appointed as an Associate Fellow in International Security at Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs), London.