Western International Political Science: History and Theory (Second Edition)

Author: Wang Yizhou
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: The Western International Politics is a discipline of Western studies. Therefore, in principle, any debates and developments involving countries other than Western and developed nations are not included in the scope of examination. Naturally, there is a question: How should the boundaries of the West be defined? For example, is Japan part of the West? This is a complex and worthy topic for discussion, and it is not possible to delve deeply into it here. From the perspective of major schools and the development of theoretical threads, and for the sake of convenience in narration, the "West" mentioned in the book generally refers to Western Europe and North America, particularly the Atlantic countries like the United States and the United Kingdom—regions where international political theory has developed more thoroughly and has greater influence. This book can be seen as a concise history of the development of Western international political theory, but it is not merely a chronological account. Instead, it attempts to trace the evolution of Western international politics over the past 80 years from the perspective of intellectual history, including the main characteristics, achievements, and problems of each stage. It outlines the main threads—the rise and fall and interconnection of major schools such as idealism, realism, behavioralism, globalism, postmodernism (post-positivism), and neoliberalism—covering their debates and developments, the insights of key figures, and innovations in disciplinary methodology. Smaller schools, new methods, and emerging trends are selectively introduced and reviewed within the historical progression.