9780321070463

This exciting text is unique in that it takes a consciously student-oriented approach to the study of international relations. Communicating concepts in a clear and concise manner, the book provides students with an abundance of high-interest features and pedagogical elements to help them learn. Aiming to maximize student understanding of the concrete world rather then IR theory, each chapter concludes with a case study of a contemporary situation so that students can apply what they've learned and aChanging Contourssection that asks students to consider the future of a particular topic. With a large and helpful map program and extensive photos and illustrations, this is a consummately student-friendly text: students like this book, and because they do, they learn from it.

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PREFACEWhen we began thinking about writing this book, our primary concern was the major events since the end of the Cold War. Patterns of behavior associated with the Cold War system had unraveled and had rendered much of the textbook literature of questionable relevance to understanding the world we face in the new millennium. It seemed to us a book grounded explicitly in a post-Cold War framework would be of some value. The result isInternational Relationsand its emphasis on the "changing contours of power."We have tried to emphasize phenomena and trends that capture the important attributes of our post-Cold War world, and are either missing or not so prominent in the older texts: the globalizing economy, the role of high technology in political and economic activity worldwide, the newer teeing played by traditional entities like the United Nations and newer entities like the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, and changing patterns of violence, like the Kosovo-style wars so common to the developing world. To deal with these changes, we propose a new and unique framework, a world of tiers, to help organize and think about how the new system works. The framework consists of two tiers: a First Tier composed of the most advanced market democracies, and a Second Tier of the developing world made of a series of developmental distinguished subtiers. We contend that the emerging system can only really be understood in terms of the dynamics of these two parallel tiers and the relationship within and between them. Our central theme, as reflected in the subtitle of the book is that although power relationships remain the basis of the system, the way they operate is being altered often at incredible speeds.Ours is not the only post-Cold War text in the field, but the consciously student-oriented approach of this text sets it apart and better helps students to understand the complex field of international relations. A quick glance will reveal a number of features designed to enhance the comprehensioneven enjoyment on the part of the student reader. Each chapter, for instance, begins with a preview of the chapter contents and a list of key concepts to be grasped, presented in the order in which they appear in the text. Each chapter ends with a brief review of what the student has read.That is not all. Each chapter includes a number of "boxed" features presenting additional material within eight recurring categories.Summaryboxes preview lists of materials covered in the text.Amplificationboxes provide fuller explanations, rosters of members of organization , and the like.Coming to Termsboxes elaborate on definition or conceptual matters.Cases in Pointboxes are short case studies illustrating points made in the main text.The Impact of Technologyboxes provide examples of how technological changes affect international relations.Views from Abroadboxes reflect non-American views of to I international matters as reflected in the foreign press.Contours of the Futureboxes offer speculations on how events and trends may change in the future and, as such, parallel the "Changing Contours" sections that end most chapters. Finally,Web Sitingsboxes direct students to Internet sources of additional material. At the end of each chapter, except the first, a longer case study explores a topic related to the main chapter subject.We have also tried to make this a student-friendly text by making the text as readable and comprehensible as possible. Wherever possible, we have avoided technical language or have tried carefully to explain terminology and ideas. We have purposely avoided footnotes and quotations that might detract from the flow of the text. Rather, we have provided selected readings at the end of each chapter and a bibliography at the end of the book appropriate for an introductory student to use for research or future inquiry. A glossary provides a ready resou

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International Relations Contours of Power

International Relations Contours of Power

0321070461

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