Global Politics Applying Theory to a Complex World

by Boyer, Mark A.; Hudson, Natalie F.; Butler, Michael J.

• ISBN13: 9780197762219
• ISBN10: 0197762212
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2024-04-23
• Publisher: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS

Author Biography

Mark A. Boyer is Board of Trustees Distinguished Professor at the University of Connecticut. He is also the Executive Director of the International Studies Association.

Natalie F. Hudson is Associate Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Human Rights Studies Program at the University of Dayton.

Michael J. Butler is Associate Professor of Political Science and Director of the Henry J. and Erna D. Leir Luxembourg Program at Clark University.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1 - GLOBAL POLITICS MATTERS
Why Global Politics Matters
Grappling with Global Complexity
- The Study of Global Politics
- Global Actors
- Global History in Context
- Interpreting Global Politics
- Thinking Theoretically: Tools for Studying Global Politics

CHAPTER 2 - THEORY IS EVERYWHERE
Theoretical Perspectives: Diverse Views on Global Politics
Realist Theory
- Realism: An Emphasis on Power
- Classical Realism and Neorealism
Liberal Theory
- Liberalism: An Emphasis on Cooperation
- Classical Liberalism and Neoliberalism
World Systems Theory
- World Systems Theory: An Emphasis on Inequality
- Marxism and Dependency Theory
Constructivism
- Constructivism: An Emphasis on Norms
- English School and Critical Theory
Feminist Theory
- Feminism: An Emphasis on Gender
- Strands of Feminism
Where Do We Go from Here?
CHALLENGE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS: IR Theory and the Role of Rationality
THINKING THEORETICALLY: Playing the Prisoner's Dilemma Game

CHAPTER 3 - INTERPRETING POWER: A LEVELS-OF-ANALYSIS APPROACH
Defining Power in Global Politics
- Characteristics of Power
- Power as the Production of Effects
The Levels-of-Analysis Approach
- Origins of the Approach
- Applicability of the Approach
Individual-Level Analysis
- Rationality and Its Limits
- Cognitive Factors
- Sex and Gender
- Leadership
State-Level Analysis
- Governmental Sources
- Societal Factors
- Physical and Technical Factors
System-Level Analysis
- Structural Characteristics
- Power Relationships
PERSONAL NARRATIVE: From Ordinary to Extraordinary: Malala's Journey
THINKING THEORETICALLY: Levels of Analysis Meets Realism
CHALLENGE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS: Toward an Era of Nonpolarity?

CHAPTER 4 - NATIONS AND STATES: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE
Nations, Nationalism, and the Nation-State Defined
- Nations
- Nationalism
- The Nation-State
The Historical Evolution of Nations and Nationalism
- Nations Emerge: From Rome to Reformation
- Nations Ascend: The Age of Enlightenment
- Nations Consolidate: The Era of Self-Determination
- Nations Expand: Colonization and Decolonization
- Nations Collide: The Brutal and Destructive Legacy of Colonialism
Nationalism Reconsidered
- Positive Dimensions of Nationalism
- Negative Dimensions of Nationalism
- Self-Determination: Pros and Cons
- The Persistence of Nationalism
The Sovereign State
- Emergence of the State
- Requisites of Statehood
- Regime Types and Governance
- Fragile States
THINKING THEORETICALLY: Contending Views on Nationhood?
CHALLENGE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS: Women and the State?
PERSONAL NARRATIVE: Reed Brody, “The Dictator Hunter”?

CHAPTER 5 - GLOBALIZATION AND TRANSNATIONALISM: FORCES OF INTEGRATION AND DISINTEGRATION
Causes and Conceptions of Globalization
- An Accelerating Political Force
- Interpretations of Globalization
Analyzing the Impact of Globalization
- Economic Globalization
- Cultural Globalization
- Evaluating Globalization
Transnationalism: Actors and Movements
- Global Civil Society
- Regional and Cultural Influences
- Transnational Movements
- The Future of Transnationalism
Continuity and Change in the Global System?
PERSONAL NARRATIVE: Esther Ibanga: Women Without Walls?
CHALLENGE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS: Islamic Fundamentalism and Legalized Discrimination in the United States?
THINKING THEORETICALLY: Liberal and Critical Feminist Perspectives on Gender Inequality in the Workforce?

CHAPTER 6 - INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION: THE EVOLVING QUEST FOR GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
Overview of IGOs?
- Why States Organize as Collectives
- Trends in IGO Formation
- How IGOs Function
Global IGOs: Focus on the UN?
- IGO Membership: Procedures and Challenges
- Voting Formulas and Debates
- Leadership
- Administration and Finance
- Activities and Behaviors
- Evaluating IGOs
Regional IGOs?
THINKING THEORETICALLY: The Neoliberal Legacy of Dag Hammarskjöld?
PERSONAL NARRATIVE: Major General Kristin Lund?
CHALLENGE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS: Do IGOs Matter??

CHAPTER 7 - WAR AND TERRORISM
War as a Concept?
- Defining and Measuring War
- Classifying Warfare
- Persistence Versus Obsolescence
Armed Conflict: Causes and Objectives?
- Individual Level
- State Level
- System Level
Global Trends in Armed Conflict?
- Incidence
- Type
- Intensity
- Other Patterns and Trends
The Changing Context of War?
- “Old” Wars: Origins and Logic
- “New” Wars: Origins and Logic
Asymmetric Warfare: Terrorism?
- Definition and Scope
- Causes of Terrorism
- Sources of Terrorism
CHALLENGE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS: Are International Courts the Key to Limiting War??
THINKING THEORETICALLY: Clausewitz, War, and Realism?
PERSONAL NARRATIVE: Mairead (Corrigan) Maguire?

CHAPTER 8 - PURSUING SECURITY
The Traditional Approach?
- Anarchy and Self-Help
- A Security Dilemma for States
- Balance-of-Power Politics
Security Re-Envisioned?
- Limits to the Realist Approach?
- Broadening and Deepening the Security Agenda
Seeking Security: Illustrations?
- Arms Control
- Conflict Management
The “New” Security Environment?
- Origins: The End of the Cold War
- Defining Features: New Rules, Actors, and Threats
Threat Assessment: Nuclear Weapons?
Threat Assessment: Cyber and Information Warfare
THINKING THEORETICALLY: COVID-19 as Security Threat?
CHALLENGE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS: Gender, Context, and UN Security Council Resolution 1325?
PERSONAL NARRATIVE: Security and Self: An Exercise?

CHAPTER 9 - INTERNATIONAL LAW AND THE SEARCH FOR JUSTICE
The Fundamentals of International Law?
- Evolutionary Nature of International Law
- The Growth of International Law
- The Practice of International Law
The International Legal System?
- The Philosophical Roots of Law
- How International Law Is Made
- Adherence to the Law
- Adjudication of the Law
Applying International Law and Justice?
- Law and Justice in a Multicultural World
- States, War, and International Law
- Applying International Law and Justice to Individuals
- The Pragmatic Application of Law and Justice
The Future of International Law and Justice?
THINKING THEORETICALLY: When Is Justice Really Served??
PERSONAL NARRATIVE: Fatuo Bom Bensouda: A Calling to Justice?
CHALLENGE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS: Why Pursue Justice??

CHAPTER 10 - GLOBAL POLITICAL ECONOMY: PROTECTING WEALTH IN THE GLOBAL NORTH
Theories of Global Political Economy?
- Economic Nationalism
- Internationalism
- World Systems
- A Note on Statistics
The World Economy: Globalization and Interdependence?
- Trade
- International Investment
- Monetary Relations
The Dominant Global Economic Institutions?
- Bretton Woods: Institutions for Peace or Oppression?
- Economic Relations Among the Global North
- Trade Cooperation Under the WTO
- Monetary Cooperation in Support of Development: The IMF
- Development Cooperation: The World Bank Group
- Cooperation Among the Dominant
Regional and Bilateral Economic Cooperation?
- A Look at the EU
- NAFTA, USMCA, and Beyond?
- Cultivating Free Trade in Latin America and Asia
THINKING THEORETICALLY: Interpreting a World Bank Nominee ?
CHALLENGE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS: How Would You Handle the Chinese Economic Challenge??
PERSONAL NARRATIVE: Justin Trudeau: The New Generation of Old-School Internationalism??

CHAPTER 11 - GLOBAL POLITICAL ECONOMY: IN SEARCH OF PROSPERITY AND EQUITY IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH
The World Economy: Diverse Circumstances?
- North-South Patterns
- Evaluating the North-South Gap
Dependency in the Global Economy?
- North-South Economic Relations
- The United Nations and Global Political Economy
- South-South Economic Relations
Applied Economic Policy?
- Using Economic Means to Achieve Economic Ends
- Using Economic Means to Achieve Political Ends
Global Economic Development Futures?
- Internationalism: Benefits for All?
- Economic Nationalism: A Competitive Future
- A World Systems Postscript
PERSONAL NARRATIVE: Kofi Annan and the UN Global Compact?
THINKING THEORETICALLY: Three Views of the Millennium Development Goals?
CHALLENGE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS: Economic Nationalism, Internationalism, or World Systems??

CHAPTER 12 - HUMAN RIGHTS: A TOOL FOR PRESERVING AND ENHANCING HUMAN DIGNITY
The Emergence of Human Rights?
- Human Rights Language
- Human Rights Laws and Norms
Human Rights Enforcement?
- UN Monitoring Mechanisms
- Role of NGOs
- State Sovereignty and Enforcement
- Barriers to Progress on Human Rights
Human Rights Issues and Advocacy?
- Critical Human Rights Violations
- Measuring Human Rights
- Student-Led Human Rights Campaigns
THINKING THEORETICALLY: Explaining Where Human Rights Come From?
CHALLENGE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS: Is Human Rights Advocacy a Form of Modern-Day Imperialism??
PERSONAL NARRATIVE: Powerful Words, Pop Culture, and Poetry?

CHAPTER 13 - GLOBAL POLITICAL ECOLOGY
An Ecological State of the World?
- Theoretical Perspectives on Political Ecology
- The Challenge of Sustainable Development
Global Carrying Capacity?
- Human Population Pressures
- Assessing Global Environmental Quality
Global Climate Change: The Looming Macrochallenge?
- Global Climate Change: What We Know
- Global Climate Change: Policy Challenges
- The Global Response to Climate Change
THINKING THEORETICALLY: Your World, Your Worldview?
PERSONAL NARRATIVE: The Politics of Science and Michael Mann's Push for Climate Truth?
CHALLENGE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS: Would You Pay More at the Pump?