East, West, North, South : Major Developments in International Politics Since 1945

By Geir Lundestad

Book Overview

′International relations textbooks share a similar risk of always speaking in the same voice. Not because of multi-handling, but instead thanks to a frequently impenetrable, introverted discourse

about theory. This makes Geir Lundestad′s book so welcome. He pays due homage to the important contribution of theory in the development of International Relations as a discipline, while escaping the standard focus on realism, liberalism and constructivism. Instead, he uses various branches of explanatory theory to provide an invaluable survey of world history after 1945′

-Australian Journal of Political Science

Fully revised and updated, the Fifth Edition of Geir Lundestad′s successful textbook on the history of international politics since 1945 will serve as an ideal introduction for all students seeking an accessible guide to world events in the post-war era up to the present day.

This new edition covers all the major international developments up to 2004, including a full assessment of 9/11, the ′war on terror′ and the conflict in Iraq.

Long established as one of the leading and enduringly popular texts on international history, East, West, North, South remains an essential companion for all students of international relations, world politics and international history.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1412907489
• ISBN13: 9781412907484
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Limited
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 0.11 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.7" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

perhaps future editions should mention China more prominently?

Here is a recap of world history since 1945. Revolving around the Cold War. The focus is on the US-Soviet Union up to 1990, and on the US-Russia relations after that. The chapters are not in chronological order. Mainly because there is a chapter on decolonisation that fits awkwardly into the overall layout of the text. It is very difficult to write about world history in this time without splitting off various topics into different chapters, that span different times. The "North, South" of the title refers to the developed and developing countries. Despite this prominent equivalence to the "East, West" of the Cold War, only 2 chapters out of 12 are about north-south issues. This relative underplaying may be correct, given the overriding central aspect of the Cold War. China and its massive economic gains since 1979 gets relatively little discussion, and mostly in those 2 chapters on north-south. Future editions of this book might want to devote more space to China.

Brilliant summary, but lacks in depth.

Lundestad's book about world politics from 1945 to this day is a fairly complete summary of major events. His post-revisionist point of view does not disturb the objectivity of his work. However the book lacks in depth, and is first and foremost an introduction to the subject. Highly readeble and enjoyable.