Introduction to International Politics

Global Challenges and Policy Responses

By (author) Glenn P. Hastedt James Madison University, William F. Felice

Paperback - £70.00

Publication date:

19 August 2019

Length of book:

408 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Dimensions:

235x191mm
8x9"

ISBN-13: 9781538104910

Introduction to International Politics makes systematic linkages between theory and policy that do not ignore or slight the conceptual discussion of international relations or simply chase newspaper headlines. Chapters are organized around “Global Challenges and Policy Responses.” The challenges are presented as concrete policy problems relevant to the theme of the chapter. The discussion of responses emphasize concrete actions taken or proposed by international organizations, the foreign policies of key states, international agreements, and actions taken by NGOs. Theoretical insights are used to help students understand challenges, think about solutions, and learn from the past.

Based on a combined fifty years of classroom teaching, Hastedt and Felice possess the uncanny ability to boil down complex ideas and make them meaningful for students. Written in a style that is direct and accessible, Introduction to International Politics offers a concise foundation for any introductory-level student taking an international relations or world politics course.

The text offers students a full suite of pedagogical features and learning aids, including a box program consisting of Policy Spotlights, Theory Spotlights, and Regional Spotlights. Each chapter opens with a Historical Perspective case study of a policy challenge, and closes with a related Contemporary Perspectivecase study of a similar challenge. Chapter study aids include learning objective at the outset, with a list of key terms and critical thinking questions provided at the end.

A full suite of teaching and learning ancillaries include a companion website with self-study quizzes, a test bank, testing software, PowerPoint lecture slides that are WCAG 2.0-compliant, and an E-book with links to the companion website.
“This is an effective framework. Most instructors want students to grow in terms of familiarity with the major contours and debates of international politics. They also typically seek to create better “citizens,” or adults who can evaluate new situations and make informed voting and other choices based upon that assessment. The challenges and responses framework is a useful way to present that type of information alongside academic theories.”