Understanding International Conflicts: An Introduction to Theory and History

This introductory text aims to initiate undergraduates to the complexities of international politics. It serves as an example of how to think about this complex and confusing domain, balancing theory and history so students will develop an informed mental framework with which to analyze current issues and dilemmas. The book can be used as a supplement or as a core text for an introductory course.

LONGMAN CLASSICS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

In revising classic works in political science, Longman celebrates the contributions its authors and their research have made to the discipline. The Longman Classics in Political Science series honors these authors and their work. Providing students with an updated context, each title in the series includes a new foreword, written by one of today’s top scholars, offering a fresh, in-depth analysis of the book and its enduring contributions.

UNDERSTANDING INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS
An Introduction to Theory and History
Seventh Edition

Joseph S. Nye, Jr.

“Sometimes original scholars sound pedantic when addressing central issues of world politics; often policymakers speak in code or platitudes. Not so Professor Nye. As any reader will see, the work in your hands is lucid, direct, and concise. Reading Nye’s writing on world politics is like watching Joe DiMaggio play center field or Yo-Yo Ma play the cello: he makes the difficult look easy.”

–from Robert Keohane’s Foreword

Written by renowned scholar and former policymaker Joseph Nye, this text is a brief and penetrating introduction to the study of world politics. It deftly applies a combination of history and theory to evaluate conflict and cooperation among international actors, thus providing students a framework for understanding contemporary issues. From World War I to modern terrorism and information revolutions to global governance, Understanding International Conflicts is a highly readable survey that answers as well as raises compelling questions about the future of international relations.

Joseph S. Nye, Jr. is University Distinguished Service Professor and former Dean of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. He also served as a Deputy to the Undersecretary of State in the Carter Administration, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs in the Clinton Administration, and Chair of the National Intelligence Council.

The new MyPoliSciKit for Understanding International Conflicts is a premium online learning resource that features multimedia activities to help students connect concepts to current events, including book-specific assessment, video case studies, role-playing simulations, mapping exercises, Financial Times newsfeeds, and politics blog. Log on to www.mypoliscikit.com to see a demo, purchase a subscription, or use your access code to get started.