Conflict After the Cold War, Updated Edition

By Richard K. Betts

Book Overview

Updated

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 032120946X
• ISBN13: 9780321209467
• Release Date: June 2004
• Publisher: Pearson Education
• Length: 627 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.5" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Just Perfect Book

Wonderful and densed written book, suitable for those who are able to devote some time to go deeper to understand -through theories and philosophical quests on human nature- what are the causes and the effects of our international environment politically speaking and the eternal struggle between war and peace.

Outstanding selections by a superb author/editor!! Highly recommend...

This edited volume is one of the best in this genre. Betts makes well-considered decisions regarding inclusions, and as an instructor for an upcoming upper-level undergrad course on War, Peace & Politics, I find these entirely appropriate, thought-provoking/intriguing, and suitably challenging. Why? 1. They span time periods, address the dominant theoretical approaches to war and peace, and offer the chance to read "classics" as well as newer literature; 2. The essays/selections/articles are cross-disciplinary (political science, philosophy, theology/religion, history, sociology, etc.) - enriching the approach to these critical, complex topics; 3. He has chosen articles that are both intellectually challenging and yet accessible; 4. The book is the right length for a 16 week course - no mean feat. If the book has weak spots, one is regarding more completely addressing "peace", including conflict management and resolution. There are other lesser flaws: Huntington's later "Civilization" article is more than a decade old (1996), for example, and the volume already includes his initial "Clash of Civilizations" piece from 1993. Societal security concepts are not well-covered. Articles addressing geopolitical and regional considerations should be included in the selections - the Middle East and oil are notably absent, for example, although there is an essay on China. The near-absence of the role of women in peace efforts in particular, and coverage of the "soft" vs. "hard" power concepts are two other weaker spots. Then again, no book, especially a "reader", is perfect, and instructors will supplement this rich volume with other materials, at any rate. Bottom line: this book is excellent. Bravo to Dr. Betts for this well-executed and valuable 3rd edition.