World Affairs: An Analytical Overview

by Ralph Pettman

Overview

This book provides a systematic and comprehensive overview of a subject that every thoughtful person wants to understand: world affairs. Though many attempts have been made to summarise this subject, all have so far resulted in no more than accounts of current events, issue-areas, and lists of ideologies or perspectives. For the first time it has proven possible, in the light of the assumptions that analysts and practitioners make with regard to human nature, human nurturing practices, and the cultural context of Enlightenment rationalism, to provide a clear and coherent account of the entire discipline. With this account it is evident at once not only what particular analysts or practitioners are saying but also what they are not saying. World Affairs represents, therefore, a superior textbook for graduate or undergraduate students, as well as a unique introduction for academics and general readers who want to know how analytical languages are used to articulate every relevant description, explanation and foreign policy prescription. Examples are drawn from the literature on the subject to exemplify each such language and attention is drawn throughout to their weaknesses and strengths.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789814293877
Publisher:	World Scientific Publishing Company, Incorporated
Publication date:	06/28/2010
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)

Table of Contents

Table of Readings vii

Preface xi

Introduction: World Affairs-An Analytical Overview 1

Part 1 Human Nature 31

Chapter 1 Realism 33

Chapter 2 Internationalism 53

Chapter 3 Globalism 69

Chapter 4 Economic Nationalism 77

Chapter 5 Economic Liberalism 87

Chapter 6 Socialism 103

Chapter 7 Nationalism 115

Chapter 8 Individualism 127

Chapter 9 Collectivism 143

Part 2 Human Nurture 151

Chapter 10 Marxism 153

Chapter 11 Constructivism 169

Chapter 12 Mixed Marxism/Constructivism 183

Part 3 Critiques 191

Chapter 13 Modernism and Modernist Auto-Critiques 193

Chapter 14 Feminism 211

Chapter 15 Environmentalism 221

Chapter 16 Post-Colonialism and the Poor 233

Chapter 17 Sacralism 245

Conclusion: The Cycle of Knowing 253

References 257

Index 267