Concepts in World Politics
- Felix Berenskoetter - SOAS, University of London, UK
Recognizing the vital importance of concepts in shaping our understanding of international relations, this ground-breaking new book puts concepts front and centre, systematically unpacking them in a clear, critical and engaging way.
With contributions from some of the foremost authorities in the field, Concepts in World Politics explores 17 core concepts, from democracy to globalization, sovereignty to revolution, and covers:
- The multiple meanings of a concept, where these meanings come from, and how they are employed theoretically and practically
- The consequences of using concepts to frame the world in one way or another
- The method of concept analysis
A challenging and stimulating read, Concepts in World Politics is an indispensable guide for all students of international relations looking to develop a more nuanced and sophisticated understanding of world politics.
In the beginning was the word, the word took on many meanings and became a concept. The concept went on to create the social world. Follow it all here.
This fascinating and insightful edited volume has an incredibly useful yet simple premise: unpack seminal concepts in the study of world politics in order to understand their history, meaning and usage. Frequently evoked yet poorly understood, concepts such sovereignty, power, democracy, globalization and many others are carefully unpacked by some of the best theorists in the field today. This volume is an invaluable resource for anyone who has puzzled over the meaning of foundational international relations concepts, asked why these ideas are so important, and questioned what role these concepts play in both the study and practice of world affairs.
It should come as news to no one that basic concepts in international studies such as 'intervention' or 'sovereignty' are contested bundles of meaning that change over time. This volume goes well beyond that observation, using it as a starting-point for a set of richly detailed investigations into the plurality of meanings composing those concepts both inside and outside of the world of academic scholarship. Such a mapping of the basic 'mental furniture' of international affairs provides an excellent point of departure for discussions about the ongoing production and reproduction of the world we inhabit. Excellent for students of international affairs at all levels, including those advanced students who sometimes style themselves 'professionals'.
