IR: Seeking Security, Prosperity, and Quality of Life in a Changing World

IR: Seeking Security, Prosperity, and Quality of Life in a Changing World presents a comprehensive approach to understanding world politics through the lens of security, prosperity, and quality of life in a rapidly evolving global environment. The book not only acquaints students with events, but also broadens the context to analyze larger patterns, making the experience immersive and engaging. Thoroughly updated, the Fifth Edition incorporates new theoretical perspectives, coverage of important events and trends of recent years, and current data and research.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1. World Politics: Seeking Security, Prosperity, and Quality of Life in a Complicated World Part I. Theory and Practice Chapter 2. The Players and the Playing Field: Anarchy, States, and Non-state Actors Chapter 3. Powerful Ideas: Realism, Liberalism, and Constructivism Chapter 4. Alternative Perspectives on International Relations Part II. International Security Chapter 5. Understanding Conflict: The Nature and Causes of Conflict and War Chapter 6. Seeking Security: Managing Conflict and War Chapter 7. Building Peace: Structures of Cooperation Part III. Economic Security Chapter 8. The Pursuit of Economic Security: Trade, Finance, and Integration Chapter 9. Economic Statecraft: Sanctions, Aid, and Their Consequences Chapter 10. International Development: Relations Between the Haves and Have-Nots Part IV. Human Security Chapter 11. Human Rights: People, Human Security, and World Politics Chapter 12. Managing the Global Commons: Whose Responsibility? Chapter 13. Transnational Advocacy Networks: Changing the World? Part V. Looking Ahead Chapter 14. Security, Prosperity, and Quality of Life in the Balance: Future Directions and Challenges Appendix of World Maps Glossary References Index

About the Author :
James M. Scott is the Herman Brown Chair and Professor of Political Science at Texas Christian University. His primary research and teaching interests are in international relations and foreign policy analysis and he has special interests in U.S. foreign policymaking, the role of Congress, and U.S. democracy promotion. He has authored/co-authored seven books and more than hundred journal articles, book chapters, other nonrefereed publications, review essays, and conference papers. During his career, Dr. Scott has earned over two dozen awards from students, faculty, administration, and professional associations including, most recently, the 2019 Textbook Excellence Award from the Textbook and Academic Authors Association (for IR: International, Economic, and Human Security in a Changing World, Third Edition, co-authored with Ralph G. Carter and A. Cooper Drury); the 2018-2019 Distinguished Faculty Lecture Award (Addran College of Liberal Arts, Texas Christian University); the 2018 Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Award (International Studies Association – Midwest), the 2018 AddRan College of Liberal Arts Division of Social Sciences Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar (Texas Christian University) and the 2012 Quincy Wright Distinguished Scholar Award (International Studies Association – Midwest). Dr. Scott has been active in professional associations, serving on the governing boards, as conference Program Chair, and as President of both the International Studies Association-Midwest (2000) and the Foreign Policy Analysis Section (2001) of the International Studies Association, and as a councillor for the Council on Undergraduate Research (2017-2019). He served as associate editor of Foreign Policy Analysis (2009-2015) co-editor of Political Research Quarterly (2015-2018), and lead editor of International Studies Perspectives (2020-present). From 2004-2013, he was the Director of the annual NSF-funded Democracy and World Politics Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates Program. Yasemin Akbaba is a Professor in Political Science Department at Gettysburg College and co-editor of the journal International Studies Perspectives (ISP). Professor Akbaba’s research is at the nexus between international security and religion. Specifically, she studies religion’s impact on various political outcomes connected to ethnic and religious minorities, foreign policy analysis and political mobilization. Professor Akbaba has authored or coauthored over two dozen articles, book chapters and books (including this one). Her journal articles have appeared in Political Studies, Journal of Peace Research, Comparative European Politics, Foreign Policy Analysis, Politics and Religion, Nationalism and Ethnic Politics, Ethnopolitics, Civil Wars, International Interactions, Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion, Politics, Religion & Ideology, Social Sciences, and others. She is also co-author of Role Theory in the Middle East and North Africa (Routledge, 2019). Professor Akbaba values innovative pedagogy that guides students to develop lifelong learning skills.   She had received Gettysburg College’s Thompson Award for distinguished teaching and UMC’s Excellence in Teaching Award. She is currently serving as an at-large member of Teaching Centric Institutions Caucus (TCIC) of International Studies Association (ISA) and an editorial board member of Journal of Political Science Education. Ralph G. Carter is Piper Professor of Texas, Professor, and former Chair of the Department of Political Science at Texas Christian University. His areas of specialization include international relations and comparative foreign policy analysis, with a particular emphasis on the domestic sources of foreign policy. He is the author, coauthor, editor, or coeditor of eight books or monographs (including this one), as well as more than 50 articles, book chapters, review essays, and other professional publications. He has been an invited scholar to universities in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. In addition to serving on the Executive Committee and chairing other committees of the International Studies Association, he also served as President of ISA’s Foreign Policy Analysis section, President of ISA’s Midwest region, Associate Editor of Foreign Policy Analysis, and on the editorial boards of Foreign Policy Analysis and International Studies Perspectives. He also served the American Political Science Association as a member of its Program Committee. In addition to over three dozen teaching awards and recognitions, in 2006 he became the first person from an undergraduate department to receive the Quincy Wright Distinguished Scholar Award from the International Studies Association-Midwest. In 2012, Princeton Review named him as one of The Best 300 Professors, and in 2013 the “Ralph G. Carter Excellence in Political Science” Scholarship was created at TCU. In 2014 he was named one of 10 Piper Professors of Texas and received the TCU Chancellor’s Award for Distinguished Achievement as a Creative Teacher and Scholar.    A. Cooper Drury is Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Science and Professor of Political Science at the University of Missouri. He earned his BA and MA from Michigan State University (1990, 1992) and his PhD from Arizona State University (1997). His primary research and teaching interests focus on foreign policy and international political economy. Specifically, he studies the causes, outcomes, and consequences of economic sanctions. Professor Drury has authored or co-authored two books, over two dozen articles and chapters. He won the Quincy Wright Distinguished Scholar Award and is the three-time winner of the Frank Klingberg Award for Outstanding Faculty Paper at the ISA-Midwest conference. Professor Drury has trained more than 20 doctoral students at the University of Missouri; in 2016, he received the ISA-Midwest Teaching and Mentoring Award, and in 2006, he received his University’s Gold Chalk Award for excellence in graduate education and mentoring. Professor Drury is very active in the profession. He was editor-in-chief of Foreign Policy Analysis, served as the program co-chair for the 2016 ISA conference, he was co-chair of the 2014 WISC/ISA conference, a past-president of both the Foreign Policy Analysis section and ISA-Midwest.

Review :
"A comprehensive and well-thought-out book for Introduction to International Relations that includes rich features beyond just text."