Introduction to International Politics
Global Challenges and Policy Responses
Glenn P Hastedt author William F Felice author
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Rowman & Littlefield
Published:19th Aug '19
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
Introduction to international politics courses typically have multiple goals. On the one hand, instructors seek to introduce students to the discipline through readings and discussions of foundational theoretical perspectives and ongoing debates. On the other hand, instructors seek to help students become informed participants in policy debates about foreign policy and international politics issues by highlighting pressing contemporary issues. Effectively addressing both concerns requires more than simply including both topics in the course syllabus or in a textbook. It requires making systematic linkages between theory and policy. This is a long standing challenge in international politics, one raised many years ago by Alexander George in Bridging the Gap in which he called for greater communication between academic scholars and practitioners. This text seeks to link theory and policy in an organized and efficient fashion that does not ignore or slight the conceptual discussion of international relations or simply chase newspaper headlines. Chapters are organized around “Global Challenges and Policy Responses.” The challenges are presented as concrete policy problems relevant to the theme of the chapter. The discussion of responses emphasize concrete actions being taken or proposed by international organizations, the foreign policies of key states, international agreements, and actions taken by NGOs. Theoretical insights are used to help students understand challenges, think about solutions, and learn from the past.
“This is an effective framework. Most instructors want students to grow in terms of familiarity with the major contours and debates of international politics. They also typically seek to create better “citizens,” or adults who can evaluate new situations and make informed voting and other choices based upon that assessment. The challenges and responses framework is a useful way to present that type of information alongside academic theories.” -- Jacob Shively, University of West Florida
“The strength of the book is its linkage of theory and policy. Too many IR books speak about abstract theories with little connection to empirical realities. Students become engaged when we teachers and our courses link theory and policy, especially policy choices and their consequences.” -- Timothy J. White, Xavier University
“The book offers a complete and comprehensive overview of the main actors and processes in the international system, presented in an engaging way for the modern college student.” -- Leslie Baker, Mississippi State University
“A real focus on current issues, grounded in actual theory and pedagogy. Lots and lots of real-world examples, used correctly. It discusses the major “-isms” without getting bogged down in them.” -- Andrew Kirkpatrick, Christopher Newport University
“Introduction to International Politics takes a classic approach to organizing the field with a focus on contemporary problems and challenges…. Terms seem well defined and examples are solid. It is nicely put together.” -- Brian Urlacher, University of North Dakota
“The overall framework is quite good and allows for a deeper engagement into the specific chapter topics.” -- Austin Trantham, Jacksonville University
ISBN: 9781538104910
Dimensions: 235mm x 191mm x 16mm
Weight: 649g
408 pages