Includes bibliographical references and index.

Machine generated contents note: Preface; Acknowledgments; Detailed table of contents; Part I. Foundations of Global Politics: 1. Introduction to global politics; 2. Global history: the making of the 21st century; 3. Competing theories, methods, and intellectual debates about global politics; Part II. Institutions and Actors in Global Politics: 4. Modern states, power, leaders, and decisions in global politics; 5. The global system: great and middle powers; 6. Global governance in transition: international law and inter-governmental institutions; 7. Politics beyond the state I: non-state actors and communications; 8. Politics beyond the state II: identity - ethnicity, nationalism, and religion; Part III. Global Conflict and War: 9. War: causes, conduct, and consequences; 10. Civil wars, insurgencies, and counter-insurgencies; 11. Terrorism and counter-terrorism; Part IV. The Politics of Global Economics: 12. Global economics and governance; 13. Global inequality: winners and losers; Part V. Global Problems and Prospects: 14. Human rights: law, institutions, and abuses; 15. Global threats: environment, energy, demographic, and health issues; 16. Crises in global politics.

"Objective, critical, optimistic, and with a global focus, this textbook combines international relations theory, history, up-to-date research, and current affairs to give the student a comprehensive, unbiased understanding of international politics. It integrates theory and traditional approaches with globalization and research on newer topics such as terrorism, the rise of new economic superpowers, and the impact of global communications and social networking to offer the ideal breadth and depth of coverage for a one-semester undergraduate course. Student learning is supported and enhanced by box features and "Close Up" sections with context and further information, "Critical Case Studies" that highlight controversial and complex current affairs topics and show how the world works in practice, and questions to stimulate discussion, review key concepts, and encourage further study. It brilliantly demonstrates the significance and interconnectiveness of globalization and new security challenges in the 21st century and illuminates the role of leadership in transnational crises"-- Provided by publisher.