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Nemesis of Power

A History of International Relations Theories

The Nemesis of Power is the first book to look at the history of international relations theories. Many theorists have investigated the nature of power, studying it in its social, political, economic, intellectual and physical contexts in order to define it. Rather than present yet another definition, Harald Kleinschmidt shows how the theorists themselves have perceived and handled the concept of power and how conduct in international relations has been evaluated. Taking a broad look at international relations theories from the Roman Empire to the modern transformation of the European world picture, Kleinschmidt bridges the gap between theory and history by subjecting theory to the logic and method of historical inquiry. Drawing on original sources, he reads international relations theories against their social and cultural contexts, placing an emphasis on the ways in which changes in theory are reflections of a wider pattern of changes in culture.

Distribution by the University of Chicago Press only to customers in the USA and Canada. Customers elsewhere should visit the UK website of Reaktion Books.


280 pages | 5.5 x 9.25

Political Science: Diplomacy, Foreign Policy, and International Relations, Political and Social Theory


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Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction
PART I: JUSTIFYING WORLD RULE
1. Religious Universalism Imposed
2. Universalism Contested and Secularized
3. The Globalization of Secular Universalism
PART II: ORGANIZING THE WORLD
4. The Ethics of Self-Constraint
5. Mechanicism
6. Biologism
7. Functionalism
8. Realism
9. Challengers, Rivals and Variants: Functionalism and Realism in Context
Further Reading
References
Index

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