Perspectives on International Relations: Power, Institutions, and Ideas

By Henry R. Nau

Book Overview

"Nau provides an accessible and deft interweaving of international relations theory and empirical application in this textbook, which is ideal for any Introduction to International Relations course." --Richard Arnold, Muskingum University Perspectives on International Relations: Power, Institutions, and Ideas shows students new to the field how theories (perspectives) of international affairs--realism, liberalism, constructivism (identity), and critical theory--play a decisive role in explaining every-day debates about world affairs. Why, for example, do politicians and political scientists disagree about the causes of the ongoing conflict in Syria, even though they all have the same facts? Or, why do policymakers disagree about how to deal with North Korea when they are all equally well informed?

The new Sixth Edition of this best-seller includes updates on Brexit, the rise of Donald Trump and other populist leaders, and continuing developments for ISIS, Syria, and Russia.

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1506396224
• ISBN13: 9781506396224
• Release Date: February 2018
• Publisher: CQ Press
• Length: 608 Pages
• Weight: 2.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 8.0" x 9.9"

Customer Reviews

Perspectives on International Relations

This product was of great help for my introductory college course in international relations. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in studying international relations. It covers the basics of international relations in a terse and simple manner.

Wonderful IR Theory Textbook

I found it to be a wonderful international relations theory textbook, very well targeted at its audience compared to some of the other international relations theory textbooks I came across. Its merit, especially for the undergraduate body, is that it is mostly through examples that the major IR theories are taught. Liberal, realist and constructivist explanations are presented for each of the following: WWI, WWII, the Cold War - beginning & end, Globalization (several chapters, including rise of the West and of Asia), global security and global governance. Graduate students may learn a thing or two as well. Very well balanced and well done. Oh, and it got a good review by Robert Keohane, Peter Katzenstein AND John Mearsheimer (see back cover).

An excellent text for Intro IR

Nau has written a very useful text for introductory IR courses. He is able to utilize IR theories simply and interweave them with more far-ranging hIstory than most texts. I also appreciate that the new "touchy feely" topics that Enlarge most intro texts are kept to a minimum. The previous reviewer is correct that it is written at a fairly simple level, but when teaching students who have no background in IR this is strength not a weakness. The cure for this is to supplement this text with an edited volume reader the exposes students to real and more complex arguments. This text coiuld usefully be teamed up with either the Art & Jervis or the Betts readers to great effect. It also exhibits admirable balance between topics. The theoretical versus empirical balance is good, as is the security versus IPE balance. The other strength is that CQ press has avoided the "USA Today" photo color pages that makes texts so expensive. By sticking to three color graphics this text does not break the bank. In my experience students do best when they have one sources that is easily accesible and then are challeneged by more complex material. This text is an excellent candidate for that accesible source.