Governing the World
The History of an Idea
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd
Published:27th Jun '13
Should be back in stock very soon
This compelling book explores the history of international governance, focusing on the establishment of systems to maintain peace, as seen in Governing the World.
In 1815, the victors of the long and exhausting conflicts that had ravaged Europe for years came together to establish a new framework for maintaining peace. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of a collaborative approach known as the 'Concert of Europe,' which aimed to prevent the chaos that characterized the Napoleonic Wars from recurring. In Governing the World, Mark Mazower delves into this transformative period, exploring how nations sought to redefine their relationships and responsibilities toward one another.
The book meticulously chronicles the evolution of international governance over the last two centuries, highlighting the ongoing struggle to promote shared values and create institutions that can effectively manage an often anarchic global landscape. Mazower examines key events, influential figures, and the philosophical underpinnings that have shaped the concept of world government, revealing both achievements and failures along the way.
Through a blend of historical narrative and critical analysis, Governing the World invites readers to reflect on the complexities of international relations and the enduring quest for stability. The author challenges us to consider whether a cooperative global framework is feasible in a world marked by competing interests and escalating tensions. This thought-provoking exploration of how nations have attempted to govern collectively is essential for anyone interested in the dynamics of power and diplomacy.
Mazower has strengthened his claim to be the preeminent historian of a generation ... On rare occasions, a work of history emerges that not only fundamentally refashions our understanding of the past, it enables us to reassess the present and, with luck, influence our future. I advise everyone who is concerned about our precarious situation to learn from and absorb Mazower's remarkable achievement -- Misha Glenny
A significant contribution to historical scholarship, with the chapters on the 19th century's remarkable swirl of politics, ideas and organisations being particularly original and valuable ... Simply for giving us this lucid account, Mazower deserves our gratitude. But Governing the World is also an intriguing read because of the strong argument he places within it ... This new work certainly gave this reviewer an awful lot to think about - to an author, there may be no greater praise than that -- Paul Kennedy * Financial Times *
Governing Europe, and then the whole world ... this idea has found its perfect chronicler in Mark Mazower, whose perceptions are cosmopolitan, humane, learned, and properly skeptical. What is more, his history is written in clear, elegant prose. Essential reading not just for historians, but anyone interested in the troubled world we live in -- Ian Buruma
A prodigious work: a master historian's reconstruction of how individuals and nations since 1815 have sought to promote national interests in ever more complicated international settings. A dramatic, novel account of ideas and institutions in collision with hard realities. Indispensable also for its full and subtle account of American policies since 1917, always with a fine touch for the hitherto neglected person or little noticed moment that illuminates historic processes. Profound, relevant, and morally instructive - and a pleasure to read -- Fritz Stern
This is a book that needed to be written ... [Governing the World] is truly illuminating ... The story is a fascinating one, and Mazower tells it with authority and verve -- Adam Zamoyski * Literary Review *
The idea of global government has entranced the world for centuries. Mark Mazower's brilliant book shows how much effort has gone into this idea - and how futile it has mostly been in an era of individualism and growing divisiveness -- Alan Brinkley
Mazower is a man of immense erudition, a real scholar ... [A] remarkable book ... Reading him is like being lectured by the best left-wing professor you'll ever have. Or like reading the best foreign affairs writer the Guardian or the Nation has to offer ... You can learn a lot from him * Standpoint *
ISBN: 9780141011936
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 21mm
Weight: 340g
496 pages