Empires of the Mind: International Society and the Search for a New Order

By James Mayall

This book examines three major attempts since World War I to reform international order and challenge empire, hierarchy, and real politik. It covers the League of Nations' promotion of democracy and self-determination, the United Nations' addition of economic governance, and post-1991 democratization efforts. The work investigates why these reforms failed and explores the persistent hold of imperial concepts over human imagination and also includes:

Analysis of three major attempts to reform international order since World War I, examining failures of League of Nations, United Nations, and post-Cold War democratization efforts Investigation of the persistent influence of empire, hierarchy, and real politik on international society despite reform initiatives Examination of how imperial concepts have adapted through different historical periods from modernity through corporate capitalism Assessment of the relationship between national self-determination principles and actual international governance structures Study of ideological transformations in empire concepts during Cold War and post-Cold War periods

Through examination of empire's evolution from modernity through corporate capitalism, the book assesses prospects for future international society transformation and the continuing influence of traditional power structures.

This title has been co-published with Knowledge World Publishers. T&F does not sell or distribute the print versions in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri lanka.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1041255551
• ISBN13: 9781041255550
• Release Date: April 2026
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 116 Pages