Essentials of International Relations (Book & Merchandise)

New coauthor Heather Elko McKibben enlivens a classic text

A fresh perspective renews Karen Mingst’s classic, concise text. A new chapter on international cooperation and international law presents alternatives to war. A streamlined approach to theories and levels of analysis makes concepts easier to understand and apply. Expanded coverage of cybersecurity, refugees, health, and the environment asks students to grapple with the big issues of our time. And InQuizitive―an all-new digital learning tool―helps students learn, retain, and apply key concepts.

Karen A. Mingst is Professor Emeritus at the Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce at the University of Kentucky. She holds a PhD in political science from the University of Wisconsin. A specialist in international organization, international law, and international political economy, Professor Mingst has conducted research in Western Europe, West Africa, and Yugoslavia. She is the author or editor of seven books and numerous academic articles. She has frequently taught the introductory international relations course. In addition, she has traveled and lectured extensively at universities around the globe.

Heather Elko McKibben is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of California, Davis. She has been at Davis since 2009, after receiving her PhD from the University of Pittsburgh in 2008 and holding a postdoctorate position in the Niehaus Center for Globalization and Governance at Princeton University in the 2008–2009 academic year. In her research, Professor McKibben is interested in understanding when, why and how different countries negotiate with each other. When and why will countries come to the negotiating table to resolve problems instead of resorting to more coercive measures? What types of strategies do they use in those negotiations, and why do those strategies differ from country to country and negotiation to negotiation? When and why will countries be able to reach cooperative agreements, and what are the resulting agreements likely to look like? Examining international negotiations in a wide variety of settings, Professor McKibben seeks to answer these types of questions.

Ivan M. Arreguín-Toft is Assistant Professor of International Relations at Boston University, where he teaches introductory international relations, among other courses. He holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Chicago. Professor Arreguín-Toft is a specialist in security studies and, specifically, asymmetric conflict. He is the recipient of fellowships at the Peace Research Institute and the Norwegian Institute for Defense Studies.