How the World Works

How the World Works builds on students' instincts about current world events and develops them into a more systematic and enduring understanding. This brief text introduces each of the field's major theories and demonstrates how different conceptual tools are used to interpret patterns in international relations. How the World Works not only grounds students in the essentials of international relations but also helps students use them to see past the headlines. "How the World Works does a formidable job demonstrating how no single theoretical approach has the final take on understanding IR. This is a fluidly written text that covers the major areas we study in the field but does it in a fresh manner that guides students through the terrain of the major paradigms." Kristina Mani, Oberlin CollegeChapter 1. How to Think About World Politics: Realism and Its Critics Chapter 2. Historical Perspectives: Continuity and Change in World Politics Chapter 3. Levels of Analysis: The Making of Foreign Policy Chapter 4. War and Violence in World Politics: The Realist's World Chapter 5. International Law and Organization: The Promise of Liberal Institutionalism Chapter 6. The Human Rights Revolution: The Construction of International Norms Chapter 7. Economic Globalization: The Consequences of Liberal Commercialism Chapter 8. Transnational Actors and Issues: The State System under Stress Chapter 9. Global Futures