Understanding International Politics: The Student Toolkit

Cover
Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
List of Images
List of Maps
Toolkit Exercises
How-To Guides
Abbreviations
Tour of the Book
Online Learning and Teaching Resources
I UNDERSTANDING THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM
	1 Your view of the world
		All politics starts with you
		The world in which we live
		The study of international politics
		Using the right TOOLS
		Overview of the textbook
		Conclusion
	2 The evolution of the international system
		Understanding the international system
		The evolution of the international system
		Conclusion
		Toolkit: Is the United States an imperial power?
		How to – approach history in your political research
	3 Theoretical foundations to the study of international politics
		Theory as an explanatory and interpretive tool
		Ontology, methodology and epistemology
		The origins of a discipline
		Summarizing realism and liberalism
		Conclusion
		Toolkit: Does a self-help international system mean states are concerned with relative gains?
		How to – paraphrase theoretical discourse in your politics writing
	4 Critical and social theoretical approaches in international politics
		An evolving theoretical debate
		Marxism
		Postcolonialism
		Feminism
		Constructivism
		Comparing theoretical approaches in international politics
		Conclusion
		Toolkit: Does identity shape state behaviour in international politics?
		How to – apply theory to your research and writing
	5 Refining your toolkit: The levels of analysis
		Refining your toolkit
		The levels of analysis
		The international level
		The state level
		The individual level
		Conclusion
		Toolkit: Why did the UK vote to leave the European Union?
		How to – use the levels of analysis approach
II UNDERSTANDING THE ACTORS
	6 The state
		Introducing the state
		The state as an actor
		Statecraft and diplomacy
		Exercising state power
		Failed and fragile states
		Conclusion
		Toolkit: Is Taiwan a sovereign state?
		How to – identify quality sources
	7 International organizations
		Introducing international organizations
		Theorizing international organizations
		The United Nations
		Debating IOs: authority, effectiveness and legitimacy
		Conclusion
		Toolkit: How feasible is UNSC reform?
		How to – approach referencing
	8 Regional organizations
		Understanding regional organizations
		The function of regional organizations
		Spotlight on the European Union
		Cooperation or integration – how far will states go?
		Conclusion
		Toolkit: Was the Battle of Marawi a turning point for the ASEAN-way?
		How to – take a position
	9 Non-state actors
		Understanding non-state actors
		Civil society and non-state actors
		Uncivil Society and violent non-state actors
		Multinational enterprises as non-state actors
		Conclusion
		Toolkit: What is the power of the ‘Tech Titans’ in international politics?
		How to – develop critical analysis skills
III UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUES
	10 War and peace
		Understanding war and peace
		War in international politics
		Between conflict and cooperation
		What is peace?
		Conclusion
		Toolkit: What was the primary cause of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine?
		How to – approach an international politics essay
	11 Security
		Understanding (in)security in international politics
		Defining security
		Security domains
		Spotlight on nuclear weapons
		Conclusion
		Toolkit: Should states invest in public health as a security concern after Covid-19?
		How to – approach a literature review
	12 Trade and finance
		Understanding international political economy
		Theoretical perspectives
		International economic organizations
		Principles of international trade
		The changing politics of trade
		Currencies and foreign exchange
		Conclusion
		Toolkit: Why did the United States start the 2018 trade wars?
		How to – write a blog
	13 Equality and development
		Understanding equality and development
		Perspectives from IPE
		Human security and development: A spotlight on migration
		Sustainable development and the SDGs
		The politics of development assistance
		Conclusion
		Toolkit: When is a country ‘developed’?
		How to – prepare a policy brief
	14 Energy and the environment
		Understanding energy and the environment
		Energy and the environment as global commons
		Global efforts to tackle climate change
		Understanding resource scarcity
		Conclusion
		Toolkit: What are the main obstacles to achieving global net zero by 2050?
		How to – prepare an academic poster
	15 Rights and responsibility
		Understanding rights and responsibilities in international politics
		Distinguishing rights and duty
		Human rights in international politics
		Humanitarian intervention
		Conclusion
		Toolkit: Why was there no humanitarian intervention during the 2017 Rohingya crisis?
		How to – approach an oral presentation
	16 Race, religion and identity
		Understanding race, religion and identity
		The importance of identity in international politics
		Race, racism and international politics
		Religion and international politics
		You and your research
		Toolkit: What does ‘decolonization’ mean to me?
		How to – approach reflective writing
References
Index