This innovative volume brings a selection of leading political theorists to the wide-ranging debate on multiculturalism and political legitimacy. By focusing on the challenge to mainstream liberal theory posed by the surge of interest in the rights of minority groups and subcultures within states, the authors confront issues such as rights, liberalism, cultural pluralism and power relations.

An ideal new multi-disciplinary volume for students and scholars of philosophy, contemporary political theory, and international relations.

This volume offers key insights into the work of the chief figures in the contemporary debate surrounding thin universalism and presents a usefully themed contribution to the secondary literature on the work of Onora Oa (TM)Neill, John Rawls, Michael Walzer, Martha Nussbaum, Stuart Hampshire and others as well as a commentary on contemporary debates surrounding human rights and distributive justice. This new book enables the reader to strongly grasp all the core debates in contemporary normative theory.

An ideal new multi-disciplinary volume for students and scholars of philosophy, contemporary political theory, and international relations.

This volume offers key insights into the work of the chief figures in the contemporary debate surrounding thin universalism and presents a usefully themed contribution to the secondary literature on the work of Onora Oa (TM)Neill, John Rawls, Michael Walzer, Martha Nussbaum, Stuart Hampshire and others as well as a commentary on contemporary debates surrounding human rights and distributive justice. This new book enables the reader to strongly grasp all the core debates in contemporary normative theory.

This topical and timely book critically explores contemporary liberal international relations theory. In the fifty years since the declaration of human rights, the language of international relations has come to incorporate the language of justice and injustice. The book argues that if justice is to become the governing principle of international politics, then liberals must recognise that their political preferences cannot be the preconditions of global ethics. The hierarchy of international political ethics must be constructed afresh so that the first principles of justice are accessible to all agents as political and ethical equals.
This book will be essential reading for students and scholars in politics, international relations, political theory and ethics.

This innovative volume brings a selection of leading political theorists to the wide-ranging debate on multiculturalism and political legitimacy. By focusing on the challenge to mainstream liberal theory posed by the surge of interest in the rights of minority groups and subcultures within states, the authors confront issues such as rights, liberalism, cultural pluralism and power relations.

International Relations is a concise and accessible introduction for students new to international relations and for the general reader. It offers the most up-to-date guide to the major issues and areas of debate and:

• explains key issues including humanitarian intervention and economic justice
• features illustrative and familiar case studies from around the world
• examines topical debates on globalization and terrorism
• provides an overview of the discipline to situate the new reader at the heart of the study of global politics

Covering all the basics and more, this is the ideal book for anyone who wants to understand contemporary international relations.

This topical and timely book critically explores contemporary liberal international relations theory. In the fifty years since the declaration of human rights, the language of international relations has come to incorporate the language of justice and injustice. The book argues that if justice is to become the governing principle of international politics, then liberals must recognise that their political preferences cannot be the preconditions of global ethics. The hierarchy of international political ethics must be constructed afresh so that the first principles of justice are accessible to all agents as political and ethical equals.
This book will be essential reading for students and scholars in politics, international relations, political theory and ethics.

eBook available with sample pages: 0203185986

International Relations is a concise and accessible introduction for students new to international relations and for the general reader. It offers the most up-to-date guide to the major issues and areas of debate and:

• explains key issues including humanitarian intervention and economic justice
• features illustrative and familiar case studies from around the world
• examines topical debates on globalization and terrorism
• provides an overview of the discipline to situate the new reader at the heart of the study of global politics

Covering all the basics and more, this is the ideal book for anyone who wants to understand contemporary international relations.

New for this edition * New chapter on international political thought This textbook gives you all the vocabulary you need -- political, conceptual and historical -- to engage confidently and deeply with political thought and the moral and political worlds in which we live. It traces the history of political thought from Plato and Aristotle to Benhabib and Rorty, following a unique dual structure that introduces key thinkers and core concepts. Topics covered include: Universal moral order o liberty o political freedom o the state o socialism o utilitarianism o distributive justice o group politics o multiculturalism o international political theory o conservatism o feminism o postmodernism o global justice Thinkers covered include: Plato o Aristotle o Hobbes o Locke o Rousseau o Marx o Bentham o Rawls o Nozick o Walzer o Kymlicka o Parekh o Pogge o Hume o Burke o Oakeshott o Benhabib o Phillips o Modood o Rorty

This title explores the actual and possible roles of evil in current-day international politics. Politicians and the press exploit the rhetorical strength of the word 'evil' in phrases such as 'evil regimes' or 'Axis of Evil'. But does it have any role in political theory? The contributors to this volume systematically explore the competing definitions of 'evil' and make sense of the political spin to discover how evil has shaped our judgements in humanitarian international law, post-conflict situations and the notion of forgiveness. They find suprising agreement in modern cultures on the evils that confront human communities - genocide, torture, slavery. It is here, where our tolerance reaches breaking point, that the concept of evil can be applied. It shows the usefulness of the concept of evil in the development of humanitarian international law, theorising post-conflict situations, the notion of forgiveness and making sense of political spin.

What role should the idea of evil have in contemporary moral and social thought? The concept of 'evil' has long been a key idea in moral discourse. Now, the contributors to this volume make a start on the important task of systematically exploring evil in the context of political theory. Intuitively, we know what evil means. Yet once we begin to think about its meaning we quickly uncover competing definitions. In recent years, political theorists have generally set the concept aside as outdated or inappropriate. Yet the idea that some things are wrong beyond toleration still has significant currency. If 'evil' can capture that significance, it merits a closer look. Key Features: * Presents a broad ranging exploration of the idea of evil in contemporary theory * Offers a philosophical analysis of the role of evil in ethics * Analyses the idea of evil in classic arguments

​This handbook provides an exploration of the field of International Political Theory (IPT), which in its broadest terms, examines the ways in which ideas about justice, sovereignty, and legitimacy shape international politics. It is a comprehensive resource for those interested in understanding the philosophical, political, and legal issues that arise from interactions between states, peoples, and global actors. The two volumes of the handbook cover a wide range of topics, from the foundations of international political thought to the latest debates in the field. They are designed to give readers a comprehensive overview of the key concepts and arguments within international political theory and provide an introduction to the main debates in the field. Volume 1 takes us from the ancient world to the formation of the modern state system as we lay the groundwork for a critical understanding of changes in, and challenges to, core ideas such as sovereignty, international law and territorial integrity. The contributions to this volume explore the European domination of the discipline providing insights into how it came to conceive the world in its own image. They also focus on non-Western perspectives and reactions to European hegemony.

View the Table of Contents.

"Both of the authors bring great depth of knowledge in the history of political thought to the writing of this book."
--Rex Martin, author of "A System of Rights"

"Illustrates the authors' obvious knowledge of a wide range of political thought, from the ancient to the contemporary."
--Iain Mackenzie, author of "Political Ideologies"

An Introduction to Political Thought emphasizes a dual approach to political theory by providing a chronological overview of both major figures and texts as well as an understanding of the development of key concepts and themes. In this way the authors provide a basic sense of the history and development of political thought and a critical grasp of the theoretical and philosophical issues at the heart of politics.

Beginning with the idea that laws and constitutions are only beneficial insofar as they give effective expression to our moral and political beliefs, the authors argue that moral and political ideas are the foundations of politics. Political philosophers covered in depth include: Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, Bentham, Rawls, and Burke. Key concepts such as the moral order, liberty, human nature, freedom, the social contract, distributive justice, liberalism, socialism, feminism, human rights, and multiculturalism are also all covered. In exploring these issues the authors offer a critical guide through key arguments in the history of political thought and contemporary political theory.

This is an introduction to international law for politics and IR students. What is international law? And what is international justice? This book shows that studying these questions together is essential. Students will develop an understanding of international law and the importance of socio-economic and political factors in shaping its formulation, present development and operations. And they will explore the critical debates on the nature of international justice. In asking what international law is 'for' and what it 'should be', they will engage with some of the most crucial questions of international politics today and examine the detail of sharply divided political opinion on, for example, the nature and justice of humanitarian intervention, the obligations that the rich have towards the global poor and the future of global governance and international legal structures. Each chapter explores a central issue in public international law and IR theory, showing how international law and normative political debate are entwined. It introduces the principles of international law that relate to IR and politics, such as sovereignty and global governance, sovereign & diplomatic immunity, human rights, the use of force, sanctions and the domestic impact of international law. It explains how socio-economic and political factors shape the formulation, development and operation of international law.

New for this edition * New chapter on international political thought This textbook gives you all the vocabulary you need -- political, conceptual and historical -- to engage confidently and deeply with political thought and the moral and political worlds in which we live. It traces the history of political thought from Plato and Aristotle to Benhabib and Rorty, following a unique dual structure that introduces key thinkers and core concepts. Topics covered include: Universal moral order o liberty o political freedom o the state o socialism o utilitarianism o distributive justice o group politics o multiculturalism o international political theory o conservatism o feminism o postmodernism o global justice Thinkers covered include: Plato o Aristotle o Hobbes o Locke o Rousseau o Marx o Bentham o Rawls o Nozick o Walzer o Kymlicka o Parekh o Pogge o Hume o Burke o Oakeshott o Benhabib o Phillips o Modood o Rorty

View the Table of Contents.

"Both of the authors bring great depth of knowledge in the history of political thought to the writing of this book."
--Rex Martin, author of "A System of Rights"

"Illustrates the authors' obvious knowledge of a wide range of political thought, from the ancient to the contemporary."
--Iain Mackenzie, author of "Political Ideologies"

An Introduction to Political Thought emphasizes a dual approach to political theory by providing a chronological overview of both major figures and texts as well as an understanding of the development of key concepts and themes. In this way the authors provide a basic sense of the history and development of political thought and a critical grasp of the theoretical and philosophical issues at the heart of politics.

Beginning with the idea that laws and constitutions are only beneficial insofar as they give effective expression to our moral and political beliefs, the authors argue that moral and political ideas are the foundations of politics. Political philosophers covered in depth include: Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, Bentham, Rawls, and Burke. Key concepts such as the moral order, liberty, human nature, freedom, the social contract, distributive justice, liberalism, socialism, feminism, human rights, and multiculturalism are also all covered. In exploring these issues the authors offer a critical guide through key arguments in the history of political thought and contemporary political theory.

This is an introduction to international law for politics and IR students. What is international law? And what is international justice? This book shows that studying these questions together is essential. Students will develop an understanding of international law and the importance of socio-economic and political factors in shaping its formulation, present development and operations. And they will explore the critical debates on the nature of international justice. In asking what international law is 'for' and what it 'should be', they will engage with some of the most crucial questions of international politics today and examine the detail of sharply divided political opinion on, for example, the nature and justice of humanitarian intervention, the obligations that the rich have towards the global poor and the future of global governance and international legal structures. Each chapter explores a central issue in public international law and IR theory, showing how international law and normative political debate are entwined. It introduces the principles of international law that relate to IR and politics, such as sovereignty and global governance, sovereign & diplomatic immunity, human rights, the use of force, sanctions and the domestic impact of international law. It explains how socio-economic and political factors shape the formulation, development and operation of international law.