Legitimacy in International Society
Understanding the Role of Legitimacy in Global Affairs
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Oxford University Press
Published:24th Feb '05
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- Paperback£49.99(9780199219193)
This book explores the concept of legitimacy in international relations, emphasizing its historical evolution and contemporary significance, particularly in the context of global conflicts.
In Legitimacy in International Society, the author delves into the complex concept of legitimacy within the realm of international relations. The text initiates a critical examination of how legitimacy has been a focal point in debates surrounding significant global events, such as the wars in Iraq and Kosovo, as well as the ongoing war on terror. Despite the frequent usage of the term among policymakers and the public, its academic exploration has been surprisingly limited. This book aims to bridge that gap by providing a thorough theoretical analysis and historical context regarding legitimacy's role in international behavior.
The first part of the book offers a historical overview, tracing the evolution of legitimacy from the late 15th century through pivotal peace settlements. It presents a revisionist perspective on the Peace of Westphalia, arguing that it marked a crucial development in establishing an international society based on shared legitimacy principles. By examining various historical contexts, the author illustrates how concepts of rightful membership and conduct have evolved, revealing the intricate relationship between legitimacy and international relations.
In the second part, the book shifts focus to contemporary issues, utilizing case studies from the Gulf Wars and the Kosovo conflict to analyze legitimacy's current implications. The author emphasizes that understanding legitimacy requires a nuanced approach, as it is influenced by the political climate and not merely by adherence to normative principles. Ultimately, Legitimacy in International Society asserts that legitimacy is a vital yet complex aspect of international relations that warrants serious consideration.
In this work, Clark achieves the objective of showing how legitimacy is intrinsically connected to international society. * Journal of Peace *
This book constitutes a sound study of the role of legitimacy in the international realm. * Journal of Peace Research, Vol 43 *
Clark provides one of the most systematic and historically informed accounts of international legitimacy to appear in many years. * Foreign Affairs *
Ian Clark's contribution is a theoretically sophisticated, historically rooted and timely work, that justly proclaims itself the most sustained treatment of the concept of legitimacy yet attempted in an International Relations context. * Cambridge Review of International Affairs *
In short, this is a superb, provocative volume that has in one swoop placed legitimacy firmly on the agenda and significantly raised the intellectual bar on its study. It is essential and rewarding reading. * International Affairs *
Legitimacy in International Society is an immensely scholarly work, well researched and closely argued. * THES *
Ian Clark's Legitimacy in International Society is a timely contribution...Clark has provided us with a rich understanding of the role of this concept in IR, and in doing so has secured its place in the English Schools lexicon. * Political Studies Review *
Clark's book deserves a wide reading. He seamlessly incorporates history and theory into an insightful analysis of an important concept * Politics and Ethics *
Ian Clark's exceptionally interesting book should reinvigorate the debate about the nature of legitimacy in the rapidly evolving international contextThis important book deserves a significant audience. * Millennium *
Ian Clark's book offers the most comprehensive analysis of legitimacy in international relations available today, in the process breathing new life into the concept of international society Few international relations scholars today can demonstrate such range and relevance. * Perspectives on Politics *
ISBN: 9780199258420
Dimensions: 242mm x 162mm x 21mm
Weight: 578g
290 pages