Part 1: Studying IR
1: Why study IR?
2: IR as an Academic Subject
Part 2: Classical Theories
3: Realism
4: Liberalism
5: International Society
6: International Political Economy: Classical Theories
Part 3: Contemporary Approaches and Debates
7: International Political Economy: Contemporary Debates
8: Social Constructivism
9: Post-positivism in IR
10: Foreign Policy
Part 4: Policy and Issues
11: Key Issues in Contemporary IR

A clearly written and concise introduction to the key theories in international relations, including a new chapter on feminism, post-structuralism, and post-colonialism.
An accessible and student-friendly text with numerous learning features, an attractive two-colour text design, and accompanying online resources.
Includes a chapter on key contemporary issues in international relations, a chapter on foreign policy, and two chapters on international political economy, making it suitable for use on broader international relations modules.

New to this edition

A new chapter covers feminism, post-structuralism, and post-colonialism in greater detail.
A new structure guides students through developments in international relations theories, from classical theories to contemporary approaches and debates.
Fully updated, with revised online resources.

The fifth edition of this successful textbook has been updated in light of current international events and ongoing debates in the subject. It provides a highly readable introduction to the principal theories in international relations, combining incisive and original analysis with a clear and accessible writing style, and a range of helpful learning features.

This new edition is structured to guide students through classical theories, contemporary approaches and debates, and key issues in international relations, and includes a new chapter on feminism, post-structuralism, and post-colonialism.

The authors emphasise the relationship between international relations theory and international relations practice, and carefully explain how particular theories organize and shape our view of the world, ensuring that students receive a blended view of theory and practice.

The text is accompanied by an Online Resource Centre, which includes:

Student resources:

Case studies
Review questions
Web links
Flashcard glossary
Links to Oxford Scholarship Online

Lecturer resources:

Boxes from the text, including text, figures, and tables.

Readership: A textbook for students taking a specific course on international relations theory and for students taking a theory heavy course in international relations.

The specification in this catalogue, including without limitation price, format, extent, number of illustrations, and month of publication, was as accurate as possible at the time the catalogue was compiled. Occasionally, due to the nature of some contractual restrictions, we are unable to ship a specific product to a particular territory. Jacket images are provisional and liable to change before publication.