Rethinking Power, Institutions and Ideas in World Politics

"Amitav Acharya is not only the leading non-Western scholar of IR theory in the United States, he is one of the most innovative scholars working in the field. What makes him stand out among the theoretically oriented scholars in the field is the deductive nature of his theorizing that is informed by his own high quality empirical research. He is one of the very few scholars of IR who are equally comfortable doing empirical research as well as theorizing, indeed who consider both these enterprises as two sides of the same coin." Mohammed Ayoob, University Distinguished Professor of International Relations, Michigan State University, USA.

At a time when non-Western states are playing an increasingly prominent role in world affairs, Amitav Acharya asks the timely question: to what extent are traditional international relations approaches capable of transcending cultural boundaries and explaining behavior in non-Western systems? He argues that theories home grown in the Global South are often more adept at tapping into these new realities. His own insightful theoretical contributions provide strong evidence to back up this claim, making this book a necessary read. Jack Snyder, Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Relations, Columbia University, USA.

"Acharya convincingly demonstrates that mainstream IR theories have been too Western-centric and he offers a clear path for theoretical development. ... Acharya’s case is powerfully made and deserves to be widely read by those concerned with the discipline." Xander Kirke, Newcastle University