bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
3. Cooperation and Conflict in the Global Political Economy
Authors: Aggarwal Vinod K. , Dupont Cédric
Published: September 2017

This chapter explores the problems of cooperation and conflict in the Global Political Economy (GPE). In situations of global interdependence, individual action by states often does not produce the desired result. Many argue that the solution to the problem of interdependence is to create international institutions, but this approach itself raises the issue of how states might go about creating such institutions in the first place. This chapter examines the conditions under which states might wish to take joint action and considers game theory as an approach to understanding interdependent decision-making. It also discusses the conditions under which international institutions are likely to be developed and how they may facilitate international cooperation. Finally, it looks at dimensions of institutional variation, focusing on factors that shape the design of international institutions.
4. The Domestic Sources of Foreign Economic Policies
Authors: Hiscox Michael J.
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the domestic sources of foreign economic policies, with a particular focus on the domestic politics of trade, immigration, foreign investment, and exchange rates. It begins by discussing two main tasks that need to be performed in order to understand the domestic origins of foreign economic policies: first, identify and map the policy preferences of different groups in the domestic economy; second, specify how political institutions determine the way these preferences are aggregated or converted into actual government decisions. The chapter also considers the general relationship between democratization and foreign economic policymaking by looking at elections and representation, legislatures and policymaking rules, and bureaucratic agencies.
5. The Evolution of the Global Trade Regime
Authors: Capling Ann , Trommer Silke
Published: September 2017

This chapter focuses on the evolution of the global trade regime, with particular emphasis on how it has been established through the actions of trading countries over the past 150 years, how it became institutionalized in the World Trade Organization (WTO), and why it is facing difficulties now. It first considers the historical antecedents of the global trade regime from 1860 to 1945, focusing on the golden age of liberalism and the Reciprocal Trade Agreements Act of 1934. It then looks at the General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT), the Uruguay Round, the WTO, and the Doha Round, along with the WTO's relationship with civil society. It concludes by outlining the range of challenges to the multilateral trade system.
7. The Globalization of Production
Authors: Thun Eric
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines how advances in transportation and technology allow a firm to divide up a global value chain — the sequence of activities that lead to the production of a particular good or service — and how these decisions create new opportunities and challenges for both companies and the societies within which they operate. It first considers the rise of global production and the forces that have led to dramatic increases in foreign direct investment and outsourcing. It then describes two dimensions of a global value chain: governance (how to coordinate activities) and location (where to locate each activity). It also explores trends in the globalization of production by focusing on the case of China.
11. Globalization’s Impact on States
Authors: Hay Colin
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the impact of globalization on the nation state. It analyses the case for and against the globalization thesis, focusing on the extent to which global economic integration might restrict the parameters of domestic political autonomy. The chapter first distinguishes between the politics of globalization and the globalization of politics before discussing the principal mechanisms in and through which globalization is seen to impact upon the nation state, along with the empirical evidence that might either substantiate or question the existence of such mechanism. It then considers the complex and sometimes paradoxical relationship between globalization, democracy, and the nation state, with emphasis on both the impact of globalization on states and the state's impact on globalization.
12. Global Growth, Inequality, and Poverty: The Globalization Argument and the ‘Political’ Science of Economics
Authors: Wade Robert Hunter
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the globalization argument, which warns that mutual benefits will be at risk if countries start to backslide on market liberalization. It begins with a discussion of trends in globalization over the past century, and the kind of evidence provided by mainstream economists to support the globalization argument. It then considers global-level trends in economic growth, income inequality, and poverty over the past few decades. It also explains why the consensus among economists about the virtues of globalization has been so resilient. It concludes by outlining some challenges for economists, especially in the field of professional ethics. The chapter argues that the evidence for the globalization argument is not as robust as the policy mainstream presumes.
5. Rising powers and the emerging global order
Authors: Hurrell Andrew
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the global order, led by the United States, that emerged at the end of the cold war and asks whether it has been effectively challenged by rising powers. It begins with a discussion of the challenges to the idea of a U.S.-dominated global order, focusing in particular on the role of large, emerging developing countries as well as the idea of the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) in the context of the future of the global economy. The chapter then considers the more recent economic slowdown in the emerging world, along with the political and social challenges facing many emerging societies. It also analyses some of the major theoretical arguments about the impact of rising powers on international relations and whether they are powerful enough to affect international order.
6. Realism
Authors: Dunne Tim , Schmidt Brian C.
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the claim that realism offers the most powerful explanation for the state of war that is the regular condition of life in the international system. It first provides an overview of the theory of realism before discussing whether there is one realism or a variety of realisms. It argues that despite some important differences, all realist theories share a set of core assumptions and ideas. It goes on to consider these common elements, namely self-help, statism, and survival. The chapter concludes with an analysis of the extent to which realism is relevant for understanding the globalization of world politics. To illustrate the main ideas tackled in this chapter, two case studies are presented: one relating to the Melian dialogue and the other to strategic partnerships with ‘friendly’ dictators. There is also an Opposing Opinions box that asks whether U.S. hegemony is durable or fleeting.
7. Liberalism
Authors: Dunne Tim
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the core assumptions of liberalism regarding world politics. It explores why liberals believe in progress, what explains the ascendancy of liberal ideas in world politics since 1945, and whether liberal solutions to global problems are hard to achieve and difficult to sustain. The chapter also considers central ideas in liberal thinking on international relations, including internationalism, idealism, and institutionalism. It concludes with an assessment of the challenges confronting liberalism. Two case studies are presented: one dealing with imperialism and internationalism in nineteenth-century Britain, and the other with the 1990–1991 Gulf War and its implications for collective security. There is also an Opposing Opinions box that asks whether democracy is a better system of government and whether it should be promoted by peaceful and forceful means.
10. Poststructuralism
Authors: Hansen Lene
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the core assumptions of poststructuralism, one of the International Relations (IR) perspectives furthest away from the realist and liberal mainstream. It explores whether language matters for international relations, whether all states have the same identity, and whether the state is the most important actor in world politics today. The chapter also considers poststructuralist views about the social world, state sovereignty, and identity and foreign policy. Finally, it discusses poststructuralism as a political philosophy. Two case studies are presented, one dealing with discourses on the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and the other relating to Russian discourse on Crimea. There is also an Opposing Opinions box that asks whether poststructuralism provides a good account of the role that materiality and power play in world politics.
15. International and global security
Authors: Baylis John
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines whether international relations, especially in an era of increasing globalization, are likely to be as violent in the future as they have been in the past. It asks whether globalization increases or decreases international security, which International Relations theories best help to provide an understanding of global security and insecurity, and what are the most important contemporary threats to international security. The chapter first considers existing disagreements about the causes of war and whether violence is always likely to remain with us. It then discusses traditional/classical realist and more contemporary neorealist and neoliberal perspectives on international security, along with a range of alternative approaches. It also explores recent debates about globalization and geopolitics and presents two case studies, one on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the other on growing tensions in the South and East China Seas.
19. International law
Authors: Reus-Smit Christian
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines debates surrounding the nature and efficacy of modern international law. It begins by discussing the reasons why international societies construct institutions, and why different sorts of institutions have emerged in different historical contexts. It then considers the nature and origins of the modern institution of international law, its relationship with the practice of multilateralism, and the recent cosmopolitanization of the global legal order. It also explores the laws of war and concludes with an overview of different theoretical approaches to international law such as realism, neoliberal institutionalism, and constructivism. Two case studies are presented: the first is about whether international law is an expression of Western dominance and the second is about individual criminal accountability in non-Western countries. There is also an Opposing Opinions box that asks whether international law has any real effect on the nature and conduct of international relations.
23. Regionalism in international affairs
Authors: Best Edward , Christiansen Thomas
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the different regional arrangements that have emerged around the globe. It considers whether there has been a uniform process of regional cooperation and integration across all continents, the driving forces in the establishment of various forms of regional cooperation, and the extent to which cooperation at the regional level changes the nature of international politics. After clarifying the various concepts and definitions associated with regionalism, the chapter discusses relevant developments in the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Europe. In particular, it looks at regional arrangements in Eurasia and the post-Soviet states. It also explores the process of European integration as well as the similarities and the differences among the various regional arrangements, with particular emphasis on the unique circumstances that shaped the emergence of the European Union. There is an Opposing Opinions box that asks whether regional cooperation strengthens the state.
27. Nationalism, national self-determination, and international relations
Authors: Breuilly John
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the role of nationalism and national self-determination (NSD) in shaping the major institution of modern international relations: the nation-state. It considers different types of nationalism and how they vary from one another, whether the commonly accepted sequence of nation > nationalism > nation-state is actually the reverse of the normal historical sequence, and whether the principle of NSD is incompatible with that of state sovereignty. The chapter also explores the contribution of nationalism to the globalization of world politics and the changing meanings of NSD since 1918. Four case studies of nationalism are presented, in Kurdistan, Germany, India, and Yugoslavia. There is also an Opposing Opinions box that asks whether the principle of NSD threatens stable international relations.
Introduction: From international politics to world politics
Authors: Owens Patricia , Baylis John , Smith Steve
Published: September 2017

This text offers a comprehensive analysis of world politics in a global era. It examines the main theories of world politics — realism, liberalism, Marxism, social constructivism, poststructuralism, post-colonialism, and feminism. It reviews the main structures and processes that shape contemporary world politics, such as global political economy, international security, war, gender, and race. Furthermore, it addresses some of the main policy issues in the globalized world, including poverty, human rights, and the environment. This introduction offers some arguments both for and against seeing globalization as an important new development in world politics. It also explains the various terms used to describe world politics and the academic field, particularly the use of ‘world politics’ rather than ‘international politics’ or ‘international relations’. Finally, it summarizes the main assumptions underlying realism, liberalism, Marxism, social constructivism, post-structuralism, post-colonialism, and feminism.
3. Liberal Equality
Authors: Kymlicka Will
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the notion of liberal equality by considering John Rawls’s alternative to utilitarianism. In his A Theory of Justice, Rawls complains that political theory was caught between two extremes: utilitarianism on the one side, and what he calls ‘intuitionism’ on the other. The chapter presents Rawls’s ideas, first by discussing the two arguments he gives for his answer to the question of justice: the intuitive equality of opportunity argument and the social contract argument. It also analyses Ronald Dworkin’s views on equality of resources, focusing on his theory that involves the use of auctions, insurance schemes, free markets, and taxation. Finally, it explores the politics of liberal equality, arguing that liberals need to think seriously about adopting more radical politics.
5. Marxism
Authors: Kymlicka Will
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines Marxism as a normative political theory. It begins with a discussion of two strands of contemporary analytic Marxism’s critique of, and alternative to, liberal theories of justice. One strand rejects the very idea of justice. According to Marxists, justice seeks to mediate conflicts between individuals, whereas communism overcomes those conflicts, and hence overcomes the need for justice. The second strand shares liberalism’s emphasis on justice, but rejects the liberal belief that justice is compatible with private ownership of the means of production. Within this second strand, there is a division between those who criticize private property on the grounds of exploitation, and those who criticize it on the grounds of alienation. The chapter also explores non-Marxist conceptions of social democracy and social justice before concluding with an overview of the politics of Marxism.
8. Multiculturalism
Authors: Kymlicka Will
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines multiculturalism and its main assumptions, especially the emphasis on the need to supplement the focus on common rights with greater attention to cultural diversity and group-differentiated rights. It begins with a discussion of three distinct stages in the debate over multiculturalism. In the first stage, proponents of multiculturalism were initially drawn to communitarianism as a possible philosophical foundation for minority rights. The second stage of the debate revolves around the question of the possible scope for multiculturalism within liberal theory, and the third stage highlights the role of multiculturalism in nation-building. The chapter proceeds by describing five types of ethnocultural groups that are found within Western democracies and how they have been affected by majority nation-building: national minorities, immigrants, isolationist ethnoreligious groups, metics, and racial caste groups such as African Americans. It concludes with an analysis of the politics of multiculturalism.
1. Introduction
Authors: Haerpfer Christian W. , Bernhagen Patrick , Inglehart Ronald F. , Welzel Christian
Published: September 2017

This text examines a number of perspectives, approaches, and insights that have informed research on democratization. Throughout the text, democracy and democratization are discussed together, and each approach to democratization is presented. The text is divided into four parts based on four aspects of democratization. Part One deals with theoretical and historical perspectives; Part Two focuses on causes and dimensions of democratization; Part Three looks at actors and institutions; and Part Four is concerned with regions of democratization such as Southern Europe, Latin America, Middle East and North Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa, and East Asia. Topics include the distinction between democratic and undemocratic states, the role of democratization in foreign policy, and the contributions of social movements, protest, and transnational advocacy networks to democratic transition.
8. Democracy, Business, and the Economy
Authors: Bernhagen Patrick
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the relationship between democratization and the economy. It first provides an historical overview of the emergence of capitalist democracy before discussing some general problems of the relationship between democracy and capitalism, highlighting the main areas in which the two systems condition each other. It then considers the role of business in democratizing countries, and more specifically the role of business actors in the transition to democracy. It also explores the intricacies of combining major political and economic reforms. Some key points are emphasized; for example, capitalism focuses on property rights while democracy focuses on personal rights. Furthermore, capitalism produces inequality, which can both stimulate and hamper democratization.
13. Conventional Citizen Participation
Authors: McAllister Ian , White Stephen
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the most visible and politically important act of conventional citizen participation: turning out to vote in a national election. Patterns of political participation are influenced by a variety of institutional factors, such as the type of electoral system and the number of political parties in a country, along with individual socioeconomic factors such as a person’s educational attainments or income. A particular problem in many previously authoritarian societies is the absence of a diverse civil society, so that the social trust upon which a healthy democracy depends is often absent. The chapter first considers various dimensions of political participation before discussing voter turnout in democratic countries. It then analyses the effects of institutional arrangements such as election rules, the type of electoral system, and the party system on political participation. Finally, it describes some of the factors that determine whether or not citizens participate in politics.
18. Southern Europe
Authors: Gunther Richard
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the political consequences of different types of regime change in Southern Europe by comparing democratic transitions via ‘elite pacts’ or ‘elite convergence’ with those involving much higher levels of mass mobilization. It begins with overviews of the distinguishing features of the transitions to democracy in Portugal, Greece, and Spain, along with some observations about how the processes of regime transformation affected the conduct of politics for several years after democracy was established. It then considers the relevance of international actors and events, economic factors, as well as social-structural and cultural characteristics to processes of regime change. It also discusses lessons that can be drawn from the experiences of Portugal, Greece, and Spain and shows that the type of regime transition can have a significant impact on the success of democratization.
20. Post-Communist Europe and Post-Soviet Russia
Authors: Haerpfer Christian W.
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the democratic revolutions that occurred in post-communist Europe and post-Soviet Eurasia during the period 1989–2008. It first considers the beginning of the decline of communism and the failed attempts to reform communist one-party states from 1970 to 1988 as stage one of democratization. It then discusses the end of communist regimes as the second stage of democratization — between 1989 and 1991. It also looks at stage three of the democratization process, which focuses on the creation of new democracies. The chapter divides the dynamics of post-communist democratization into three separate paths of development: the path towards consolidated and liberal democracy, the path towards partial and electoral democracy, and the path towards illiberal autocracy. It concludes with an assessment of the main drivers of successful democratization in post-communist Europe.
21. The Middle East and North Africa
Authors: Cavatorta Francesco
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines why democratic openings failed to consolidate in the Middle East and North Africa despite the profound influence of the global wave of democratization on both regions. Authoritarianism persists in the region comprising the Middle East and North Africa. Nevertheless, countries in the region experienced changes since the consolidation of authoritarian rule soon after decolonization. The chapter considers a number of explanations for the durability of authoritarian rule in the Middle East and North Africa in the face of both domestic and international pressures for democratic governance. In particular, it discusses the role of Islamist political actors and Israel. It also looks at the region’s political culture and society, business and economy, and agents of democratization and democratic failure. Finally, it describes institutional challenges for the region’s chances to become more democratic.
4. Germany: In Search of a New Balance
Authors: Beichelt Timm
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines Germany’s profile as a European Union member state. It first provides an overview of Germany’s trajectory during the history of European integration before analysing the patterns of Germany–EU relations. It then uses the comparative politics paradigm by considering public opinion on Europe, the European dimension of party politics, and the Federal Republic’s major political institutions and their role in European policy. It also discusses Germany’s policy performance as an EU member state, along with the impact of EU membership on German political parties. The chapter shows that, within the framework of international politics, Germany has ceded much of its sovereignty and become ever more integrated into European and transatlantic frameworks. At the same time, German interests in the areas of international security and socioeconomic development have benefited significantly from European integration.
5. The United Kingdom: Towards Isolation and a Parting of the Ways?
Authors: Allen David
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the history of the United Kingdom’s relationship with the European integration process. Britain’s relations with the European Union is characterized by partial Europeanization. The British ruling elite, especially the civil service, has been Europeanized. However, the political parties have been beset by internal divisions on European integration, while the British public has not been supportive of integration. The chapter first provides an overview of the UK’s European diplomacy before discussing the impact of Europeanization on British politics. It then considers the differing levels of accommodation with European integration and the changes that have accompanied the coming to power in 2010 of the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition after a lengthy period of Labour rule (1997–2010). The chapter concludes by comparing the UK’s experience with those of fellow member states Ireland and Denmark.
6. Spain: Modernization Through Europeanization
Authors: Morata Francesc
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the different aspects of Spain’s adaptation to the European Union, and more specifically how Europe became a source of benefits and modernization for the country. Spain is the only country among all those which have joined the EU after 1958 whose political parties and citizenry were in full support of the issue. Europeanization has affected most policy areas, particularly economic and social policies, in response to EU pressures during the financial crisis. The chapter first considers the pattern of Spain’s relations with the EU before discussing the overall assessment of its EU membership among public opinion and political parties. It then analyses the impact of EU membership on Spain’s political institutions and governance, judicial politics, and policy adaptation in areas such as the Common Agricultural Policy and environmental policy. The chapter concludes by comparing Spain’s experience with those of other member states.
7. Sweden: From Scepticism to Pragmatic Support
Authors: Michalski Anna
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the adaptations that have occurred in Sweden’s political and administrative system following its admission to the European Union on 1 January 1995. Sweden became a member of the EU on 1 January 1995 after a long period of hesitation. After fifteen years of membership, reticence has given way to a more positive stance, best characterized as pragmatic support. The chapter first considers patterns in Sweden’s membership in the EU before discussing Swedish public opinion towards the EU and the impact of Sweden’s EU membership on the country’s political parties, political institutions, public administration, and sub-national actors such as the civil service. The chapter goes on to explore Sweden’s approach to EU public policy and concludes by comparing its experience with those of other member states, including Austria and Finland.
9. Estonia: Excelling at Self-Exertion
Authors: Ehin Piret
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines Estonia’s relations with the European Union. Estonia showed dedication in pursuing integration with the EU as it sought to strengthen statehood in a complex international environment. In the course of its post-communist transition, Estonia’s homegrown reforms gradually gave way to policy change and institution building driven by EU accession conditionality. The small nation’s track record as an EU member state points to continued compliance with EU law and pre-accession demands. However, legal alignment has not always been accompanied by behavioural and attitudinal change. The chapter first provides an overview of Estonia’s integration with the EU before discussing the pattern of its relations with the EU before and after accession. It then assesses the impact of EU membership on Estonia’s public opinion, political parties, political institutions, governance, and public policy.
14. The European Union
Authors: Rittberger Berthold
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines how the European Union acquired distinctive constitution-like features. It begins with a discussion of three routes to constitutionalization: the first is through changes in the EU's primary law; the second focuses on ‘in between’ constitutionalization; and the third leads directly to the European Court of Justice and its jurisprudence. The chapter proceeds by discussing two developments that have shaped the EU constitutional order almost since the beginning: the emergence of a body of EU law constituting a set of higher-order legal rules, and the consolidation of the constitutional principle of representative democracy. It explains how the supremacy and direct effect of EU law, as well as the EU court's concern with the protection of fundamental rights, helped transform the EU into a constitutional polity. It also considers how the extension of the legislative, budgetary, and other powers of the European Parliament animated the constitutional principle.
2. American exceptionalism
Authors: Deudney Daniel , Meiser Jeffrey
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines how America can be described as different and exceptional. The belief in American exceptionalism is based upon a number of core realities, including American military primacy, economic dynamism, and political diversity. Understanding understanding American exceptionalism is essential for understanding not only U.S. foreign policy but also major aspects of contemporary world politics. The chapter first considers the meaning of exceptionalism, the critics of American exceptionalism, and the roots of American success. It then discusses the liberalism that makes the United States exceptional, along with peculiar American identity formations of ethnicity, religion, and ‘race’. It also explores the role of American exceptionality across the five major epochs of American foreign policy, from the nation’s founding to the present. It concludes by reflecting on the significance of the election of Barack Obama as president in 2008 to the story of American exceptionalism, difference, and peculiar Americanism.
7. The foreign policy process: executive, Congress, intelligence
Authors: Foley Michael
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the U.S. foreign policy process which encompasses the executive, Congress, and intelligence. It first considers American foreign policy as a primary agency of government adaptation before discussing the role of the executive as the lead agency of systemic evolution in response to foreign policy needs, taking into account the executive prerogative and judicial recognition of inherent executive power. It then describes the political and technical difficulties experienced by Congress in matching the executive in foreign policy. It also explores the ramifications of 9/11 and the war on terror for American foreign policy and concludes with an overview of U.S. foreign policy under Barack Obama.
9. Regional shifts and US foreign policy
Authors: Trubowitz Peter
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the impact of regionalism on U.S. foreign policy. In contrast to accounts that grant primacy to ideas or institutions, it argues that America’s regional diversity is the most important source of tension and conflict over foreign policy. It also shows that conflicts over the purposes of American power, as well as the constitutional authority to exercise it, are fundamentally conflicts over the distribution of wealth and power in American society among coalitions with divergent interests and claims on the federal government’s resources. The chapter develops this argument by analysing debates over American foreign policy in three different periods: the 1890s, the 1930s, and the current era. After discussing the link between regional interests and foreign policy, the chapter considers the great debate over expansionism, the struggle over internationalism, and American primacy and the ‘new sectionalism’.
14. US foreign policy in Russia
Authors: Rutland Peter , Dubinsky Gregory
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines U.S. foreign policy in Russia. The end of the Cold War lifted the threat of nuclear annihilation and transformed the international security landscape. The United States interpreted the collapse of the Soviet Union as evidence that it had ‘won’ the Cold War, and that its values and interests would prevail in the future world order. The chapter first provides an overview of the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 before discussing U.S.–Russian relations under Bill Clinton and Boris Yeltsin, respectively. It then turns to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and its enlargement, the Kosovo crisis, and the ‘Great Game’ in Eurasia. It also analyses the rise of Vladimir Putin as president of Russia and the deterioration of U.S.–Russian relations and concludes with an assessment of the cautious partnership between the two countries.
18. Global economy
Authors: Gowan Peter , Stokes Doug
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines some of the central debates on how we should understand the United States’ efforts to reshape international economic relations since the 1940s. It first considers debates on the sources and mechanisms of American economic strategy before turning to debates about the substance of American efforts to shape the global economy. It approaches the debates about the substance of U.S. foreign economic policy since 1945 by classifying varying perspectives on this question in three alternative images. The first such image is that of America as the promoter of a cooperative, multilateral order in international economics. The second image is that of an American economic nationalism and the third is that of an American empire. The chapter goes on to analyse the global financial crisis and concludes with an overview of some of the main current debates about the strength of American capitalism in the world economy.
20. Global environment
Authors: Eckersley Robyn
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the evolution of U.S. foreign policy on environmental issues over four decades, from Richard Nixon to Barack Obama. It first considers U.S. environmental multilateralism and foreign environment policy before explaining how the United States, despite being widely regarded as an environmental leader during the Cold War period, has increasingly become an environmental laggard in the post-Cold War period. The chapter attributes the decline in U.S. leadership to the country’s new status as the sole superpower, the more challenging character of the new generation of global environmental problems that emerged in the late 1980s, the structure of the U.S. economy and political system, and key features of U.S. grand strategy.
23. US decline or primacy? A debate
Authors: Layne Christopher , Wohlforth William , Brooks Stephen G.
Published: September 2017

This chapter focuses on the debate over whether U.S. power is in decline and if so, what is the best grand strategy that the United States needs to pursue. Three leading experts offer their views on the issue and its significance for U.S. foreign policy: Christopher Layne, William Wohlforth, and Steven Brooks. Layne argues that the United States is now in inexorable decline and attributes it to the end of unipolarity. He identifies two specific drivers of American decline, one external and one domestic. The external driver of U.S. decline is the emergence of new great powers in world politics, while domestic drivers include debt, deficits, and the dollar’s uncertain future. In contrast, Wohlforth and Brooks assert that the United States remains the sole superpower, and that multipolarity is not just around the corner.
Introduction: US foreign policy—past, present, and future
Authors: Cox Michael , Stokes Doug
Published: September 2017

This edition provides an account of contemporary U.S. foreign policy. There are at least five broad themes that inform the text. The first is the importance of the past for understanding the present. The second concerns the complex relationship between foreign policy and America’s longer-term goals and interests. Policy makers have assumed that the international order that would best advance American interests would be composed primarily of democratic states, open markets, and self-determining nations. The third theme is the importance of the ‘domestic’ in shaping U.S. foreign policy choices, including factors such as interest groups, the role of institutions, and the power of ideas. The fourth theme relates to the issue of perspective or ‘balance’, and the fifth and final theme refers to the fact that whatever one might think of the United States past, present, or future, it is simply too important to be ignored.
4. The Place of Liberty
Authors: Wolff Jonathan
Published: September 2017

This chapter explores the theory that, to avoid the ‘tyranny of the majority’, we should be given the liberty to act just as we wish, provided that we do no harm to others. The focus is on John Stuart Mill's Liberty Principle (also known as the Harm Principle), according to which you may justifiably limit a person's freedom of action only if they threaten harm to another. The chapter considers Mill's arguments based on the Liberty Principle, including his claim there should be complete freedom of thought and discussion, and that harming another's interests is not a sufficient condition to justify constraint. It also discusses justifications for the Liberty Principle by focusing on issues of rights and utility, individuality and progress, and liberty as an intrinsic good. It concludes with an analysis of some of the problems of the kind of liberalism espoused by Mill's Liberty Principle.
5. The Distribution of Property
Authors: Wolff Jonathan
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the concept of distributive justice, asking in particular whether citizens should have the liberty to acquire and dispose of property however they see fit, or whether there are justified restrictions on economic activity in the name of liberty or justice. It begins with a discussion of the problem of distributive justice, taking into account a variety of differing opinions on how a liberal society should distribute property, along with the so-called income parade. It then considers property and markets, focusing on John Locke's ideas, and the free market principle. It also explores John Rawls's theory of justice and some of the criticisms levelled against him, including those by Robert Nozick.
Issues in Political Theory
Authors: McKinnon Catriona
Published: September 2017

Issues in Political Theory provides an introduction to some of the key concepts, thinkers, and texts in political theory. Clearly written chapters have been brought up to date with contemporary issues and literature, and the third edition introduces a new chapter on crime and punishment, and one on power that examines racialized inequality in the United States, as well as a rewritten chapter on war and intervention. A number of engaging new cases are featured in the text to demonstrate how theory can be used to examine important political issues. Extended case studies at the end of each chapter show students how to examine a key political issue in light of the concepts explored in the chapter, while a range of additional learning features help students to check and develop their understanding, and approach learning materials beyond the text book.
Introduction
Authors: McKinnon Catriona
Published: September 2017

This edition examines the most important, visible, and influential strands in political theory over the last fifteen years. It considers problems of political obligation, liberty, the limits of toleration, the nature of democracy, requirements of equality and social justice, the concept of crime and approaches to punishment, and the promise and problems of multiculturalism. It also explores problems that cross state borders, and in some cases call into question the moral legitimacy of those borders. Through exploration of ‘just war theory’, the text analyses the moral principles governing inevitable armed conflicts between states. Finally, it discusses approaches to features of the human condition that theories addressing intra- and inter-state relations must be sensitive to. This introduction explains what political theory is and emphasizes the difference that good arguments in political theory might make to the real world. It also provides an overview of the plan of this text.
1. Political authority and obligation
Authors: Hyams Keith
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the various approaches that political theorists have used to answer questions surrounding political authority and obligation. It considers arguments in favour of political authority and obligation as well as anarchist positions, which claim that we are not obliged to obey the law. To illustrate these themes, the chapter presents a case study that explores military conscription as a problem of political obligation. The concepts of consent, fairness, community, morality, and philosophical anarchism are also discussed. The chapter includes Key Thinkers boxes that feature Plato and Robert Nozick. Based on the arguments that have been put forward, it seems clear that the state is justified at least in so far as it seeks to enforce morality.
2. Liberty
Authors: Riley Jonathan
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines the normative dimensions of liberty by relating the descriptive concept to normative theories of civil and political liberty, as well as security, defended by key thinkers in historical and contemporary debates. Purely descriptive concepts of liberty must be distinguished from normative concepts. Thomas Hobbes offered a valid descriptive concept of liberty as doing as one wishes. For John Stuart Mill, civil liberty or security must always include a basic right to do whatever one wishes, in relation to a natural domain of ‘purely self-regarding’ conduct. This chapter first considers the link between liberty and rights before discussing negative and positive liberty, civil liberty and political liberty, and the interrelationships among justice, security, and liberty. It concludes with an analysis of the right to absolute self-regarding liberty. A case study concerning the USA Patriot Act of 2001 and the war on terror is presented.
6. Crime and punishment
Authors: Renzo Massimo
Published: September 2017

This chapter explores some of the most important arguments that have been advanced in the philosophical debate over crime and punishment. More specifically, it examines the question of what justifies the alleged right of states to punish their citizens. Without a convincing answer to this question, the radical conclusion that the criminal justice system should be abolished deserves a consideration. The chapter first explains what we mean by ‘punishment’ before discussing a range of approaches to the justification of punishment, including consequentialism, retribution, and mixed approaches. A case study on international crimes is presented, along with Key Thinkers boxes featuring Joel Feinberg and R. A. Duff.
7. Multiculturalism
Authors: Mookherjee Monica
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines debates about multiculturalism in political theory. In the 1990s, some argued that it was impossible not to be in favour of multiculturalism. However, recent events, such as the bomb attack at Burgas airport in Bulgaria and the shootings by a lone gunman in France (both occurred in 2012), have led some to fear that supporting cultural diversity undermines a strong national identity. These critics have called vigorously for assimilation, as opposed to multicultural thinkers who prefer the notion of integration. This chapter considers themes such as thick and thin multiculturalism, cultural rights, multiculturalism and oppression, and the politics of recognition. A case study on the Muslim veil is presented, along with Key Thinkers boxes featuring Yael Tamir, Will Kymlicka, Charles Taylor, and Bhikhu Parekh.
13. Generations
Authors: Gosseries Axel
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines questions of generations and intergenerational justice. It first considers the notion of generational sovereignty and what is required for a democracy to take the interests of future generations into account. It then explores whether meaningful accounts can be provided of the idea of responsibility for our ancestors' deeds, or whether we have obligations to future generations, and if so, how they can be accounted for. It also asks whether ‘age’ should be seen as a distinct focus point for theories of intergenerational justice and what differentiates it from, for example, gender or ‘race’. A case study on intergenerationally fair pensions is presented, along with Key Thinkers boxes featuring Thomas Jefferson and Derek Parfit.
2. Theories of EU Governance
Authors: Bache Ian , Bulmer Simon , George Stephen , Parker Owen
Published: September 2017

This chapter examines theories of European Union governance. As European integration progressed, the academic focus began to shift from explaining the integration process to understanding the EU as a political system. As such, EU scholars increasingly drew on approaches from the study of domestic and comparative politics. While some attempts to escape the supranational–intergovernmental dichotomy have proved more successful than others, these contributions broadened the study of the EU considerably beyond the traditional international relations debate and many scholars have spoken of a ‘governance turn’ in EU studies in the 1990s. This chapter considers a number of approaches that focus on the EU as a political system. These approaches fall within the broad categories of ‘new institutionalism’ and ‘governance and networks’. The concept of multi-level governance is also discussed.
3. Theorizing Consequences
Authors: Bache Ian , Bulmer Simon , George Stephen , Parker Owen
Published: September 2017

This chapter brings together what have usually been presented as separate ‘consequences’ of European integration: Europeanization effects and challenges to democracy. It first considers the meanings of ‘Europeanization’ and uses of Europeanization before discussing the development of Europeanization studies that relate specifically to the European Union, along with the new institutionalisms in Europeanization research. It also examines the issue of legitimacy and the notion of ‘democratic deficit’. The chapter shows how the process of Europeanization can challenge domestic democratic structures and processes by transferring responsibilities and obscuring lines of accountability. It suggests that Europeanization may also add to the so-called ‘output democracy’ by increasing the policy-making capacities of governments through collective action.
7. The First Years of the European Economic Community (the 1960s and into the 1970s)
Authors: Bache Ian , Bulmer Simon , George Stephen , Parker Owen
Published: September 2017

This chapter focuses on the first years of the European Economic Community (EEC). It describes the early 1960s as a period of apparent success for the supranational elements within the EEC, noting the rapid progress made towards the creation of both a common market and a common agricultural policy. The chapter also examines the crisis sparked by France’s decision to boycott meetings of the Council of Ministers in response to proposals for a more supranational method of funding the EEC budget; the impact of this crisis on the process of European integration; the so-called Luxembourg Compromise; and the Hague Summit. It concludes by discussing the EEC’s expansion of its membership at the start of the 1970s, as well as its first moves towards an Economic and Monetary Union and a Common Foreign and Security Policy.