International Political Theory: Rethinking Ethics in a Global Era: 5 (SAGE Politics Texts series) - Softcover

Hutchings, Kimberley

Softcover

ISBN 10: 076195516X ISBN 13: 9780761955160

Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd, 1999

Synopsis

`A lucid, comprehensive analysis of normative approaches to international relations, and an original contribution to critical theory′ - Andrew Linklater, University of Keele

`Hutchings combines a valuable account of the current state of the art with a lucid expositon of her own, highly distinctive, position. This will be required reading for students in international political theory, and indeed anyone interested in normative issues in international relations′ - Chris Brown, London School of Economics and Political Science

Providing an invaluable overview of the competing schools of thought in traditional and contemporary international theory, this book seeks to path the way forward for new ways of thinking about international political morality.

First, the role and place of normative theory in the study of international politics is explained before a discussion of mainstream approaches within international relations and applied ethics. Here the student is introduced to the central debates between realists and idealists, and cosmopolitans and communitarians.

Second, the conceptual challenges of contemporary approaches in critical theory, postmodernism and feminism are outlined and then used as a platform to develop the author′s own Hegelian-Foucauldian approach for doing normative international theory.

Third, the insights drawn from each approach are applied to the study of two key topics in contemporary theoretical debate: the right to self-determination, and the idea of cosmopolitan democracy, and conclusions drawn for transcending the theoretical deadlock in international relations.

Accessibly written and wide-ranging, this text will quickly become essential reading for all students and academics of politics and international relations seeking a deeper understanding of the underlying tensions and future potential of international theory today.

About this title

About the Author

Kimberly Hutchings is in the Department of Politics at the University of Edinburgh

From the Back Cover

Providing an invaluable overview of the competing schools of thought in traditional and contemporary international theory, this book outlines new ways of thinking about international political morality. The author defines the role of normative theory in the study of international politics and introduces students to the central debates between realists and idealists, cosmopolitans and communitarians. She explores the conceptual challenges of contemporary approaches in critical theory, and applies each approach to the study of two key topics in contemporary theoretical debate: the right to self-determination, and the idea of cosmopolitan democracy.

Edition details

• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 076195516X
• ISBN 13: 9780761955160
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224