International Relations in a Changing Global System

The contemporary system of nation states is experiencing a profound transformation. Since the seventeenth century the world polity has consisted of a shifting set of individual, more or less autonomous states; today there are more professedly sovereign countries than ever, but they are so much more closely interconnected than before that the essential nature of the world polity has been dramatically altered. It is the task of international relations theory to keep up with a changing world, and in this short text Seyom Brown develops the outline of a new theory that places the politics of international relations in a wider global context of economics, ecology, culture, and conflicting values. Simple in conception, logically tight, and brilliantly executed, International Relations in a Changing Global System presents a new way of thinking about the global system of nations. Brown explains how the present international system originated and has evolved, examines its current problems, and explores how it might be altered to address these problems. Clear-eyed yet optimistic, connected to the history of international relations yet looking to a much different future, Professor Brown's unique text challenges its readers to think in new ways about our planets future. Teachers and students will find it accessible, yet challenging. It is an ideal textbook for the contemporary classroom.