Rules of the Game: A Primer on International Relations

by Amstutz,Mark R.

• ISBN13: 9781594513367
• ISBN10: 1594513368
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-10-30
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This introductory text presents an overview of fundamental concepts and principles of international relations (IR) using a game metaphor. The use of the game metaphor as an organizing principle allows the author to present the inner logic of IR in a succinct, coherent, and dynamic manner. The first part of the primer focuses on the nature of the international community and how the IR game is played. In this section, the author examines the nature of the IR game, the actors eligible to play the game, and the goals and strategies for playing the game. In presenting the basic architecture of global politics, the book illuminates key elements of the traditional Westphalian system and then highlights important changes currently under way in the emerging postmodern international system. The second part of the primer shows four types of "rules of the game" in action-political, economic, legal, and moral. Although IR has often been defined in terms of power politics alone, all four types of rules play an important role in structuring the international behavior of states and other actors. The text concludes by examining developments that are likely to influence the future IR game. Beginning students and laypersons with an interest in global affairs will find this innovative and clearly written guide a useful conceptual roadmap to the field of IR.

Table of Contents

List of IR Principles and Rules	p. viii
Preface	p. xii
International Relations as a Game	p. 1
The Metaphor of Game	p. 1
The Changing IR Game: China versus the United States	p. 6
The Nature and Role of Ideas, Principles, and Rides	p. 8
The International Community	p. 14
Global Governance	p. 17
Conclusion	p. 20
Foundations of the IR Game
The Nature of the IR Game	p. 23
The Traditional Game	p. 24
The Emerging Postmodern Game	p. 30
Principles of the Emerging Postmodern System	p. 36
Soccer as a Traditional Game and as a Postmodern Game	p. 38
Conclusion	p. 45
The Players of the IR Game	p. 47
The Nature and Role of Nation-States	p. 48
Membership: Joining the Club of States	p. 52
Nationalism and International Relations	p. 54
The Difficult Journey toward Statehood: The Case of Kosovo	p. 57
Strong and Weak States	p. 62
Nonstate Players	p. 66
Conclusion	p. 68
Goals and Strategies for Playing the IR Game	p. 71
How to Win: The Nature and Role of Foreign Policy	p. 72
Interests: National and Global	p. 76
Power: The Essential Resource	p. 80
Statecraft: The Tools to Maximize Interests	p. 83
Norms of Diplomacy	p. 86
Conclusion	p. 91
Principles and Rules of the IR Game
Political Rules of the IR Game	p. 95
Alternative Conceptions of Global Society	p. 96
Primary Political Rules	p. 103
Principles for Using Force	p. 109
Secondary Political Rules	p. 113
Conclusion	p. 119
Economic Rules of the IR Game	p. 121
World Economic Development	p. 122
The Market Economy and Its Alternatives	p. 126
Institutions of the Global Economy	p. 133
Global Economic Backlash	p. 134
International Economic Rules	p. 138
Conclusion	p. 145
Legal Rules of the IR Game	p. 147
The Nature and Role of International Law	p. 148
Is International Law Really Law?	p. 155
Key Principles of the International Legal Order	p. 160
International Legal Rules	p. 165
Conclusion	p. 169
Moral Rules of the IR Game	p. 171
The Nature and Role of International Political Morality	p. 173
The Pursuit of Justice through States	p. 179
Principles of International Justice	p. 181
Moral Rules of International Justice	p. 184
Principles of the Just War Tradition	p. 186
Conclusion	p. 192
Prospects for a New IR Game
The Future IR Game	p. 197
Globalization versus Fragmentation	p. 197
Sovereignty versus Globalism	p. 202
Three Models of the Future	p. 208
Comparison of Three Models of the Future IR Game	p. 215
Conclusion	p. 216
Notes	p. 219
Index	p. 231
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