Publisher's Synopsis
Globalization connects people, cultures and countries much more diligently than they have ever been. The study and practice of international relations is interdisciplinary in nature, blending the fields of economics, history, and political science to examine topics such as human rights, global poverty, the environment, economics, globalization, security, global ethics, and the political environment. International Relations studies the relationships among countries and the roles of governmental and non-governmental organisations and multi-nationals. In an increasingly inter-connected world, people who understand and can work with these complex relationships have a significant advantage. They uncover the structures and motivations behind cooperation, conflict and war in the international system. They dig into issues of power, conflict, diplomacy, arms control, democracy, revolution, terrorism, developmental politics, civil society, human rights, foreign policy, humanitarian aid, and the international political economy. Exceptional economic integration, unprecedented threats to peace and security, and an international focus on human rights and environmental protection all speak to the complexity of international relations in the 21st century. This means the study of international relations must focus on interdisciplinary research that addresses, anticipates, and ultimately solves public policy problems. Undergraduate International Studies on the Eve of the 21st Century provides an integrated view of global processes through a critical examination of the world's institutions, ideas, cultures, and historical traditions. It illustrates the pace and unpredictability of change in the modern world - which makes the current exercise particularly challenging, and perhaps unwise. Disciplinary approaches in understanding the global arena including geographic, political, economic, social, and cultural borders provide the framework for critical analysis as explicit connections to the different disciplines are made through both historical and theoretical analysis integrating research and current real-world examples. This book will be of interest for students and practitioners dealing with international studies developing a strong grasp of current social, political, and economic developments in 21st century.
