The Oxford Handbook of International Relations

The Oxford Handbooks of Political Science

by Christian Reus-Smit (Editor), Duncan Snidal (Editor)

The Oxford Handbook of International Relations offers the most authoritative and comprehensive overview to date of the field of international relations. Arguably the most impressive collection of international relations scholars ever brought together within one volume, the Handbook debates the nature of the field itself, critically engages with the major theories, surveys a wide spectrum of methods, addresses the relationship between scholarship and policy making, and examines the field's relation with cognate disciplines. The Handbook takes as its central themes the interaction between empirical and normative inquiry that permeates all theorizing in the field and the way in which contending approaches have shaped one another. In doing so, it provides an authoritative and critical introduction to the subject and establishes a sense of the field as a dynamic realm of argument and inquiry. The Oxford Handbook of International Relations will be essential reading for all of those
interested in the advanced study of global politics and international affairs.

Genres: Politics, International Relations, Political Science, Nonfiction, Reference

772 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2008

Reviews

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Its a handbook on international relations

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an AMAZING book, and I loved it. My favorite chapter was definitely the Ethics of Realism, a school of thought I was pretty hardcore about until reading that chapter's author's eviscerating critique of pure, classical Realism. The whole book is really a way of saying, "hey, all of these international relations are great, but take an eclectic approach to international affairs. A framework can be useful, but when you see the world through an unchanging, rigid lens, you'll miss how the world actually is." I still consider myself a fan of the Realist school - I just have more awareness of the school's shortcomings. Morals have an important role in international affairs, and I've found it kind of funny how Realists will label anyone who thinks that genocide or war crimes are bad, they'll say, "oh, well, you're just a moralist so you're a tiny baby who needs their diaper changed." Anyways. Great book. This is a must read for people wanting to study international relations. I recommend skipping around and gravitating to whatever sections interest you. Come at the book with your questions about international relations and actively search for the answers; it makes for a more engaging experience.

[Gabriela]

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