Power in World Politics

The concept of power is central to the study of world politics. It enables us to identify pertinent actors and relationships in the international system, to locate sites of political activity and holders of responsibility for shaping our lives. And in a changing world giving rise to new phenomena of conflict and cooperation, students of International Relations cannot ignore that power' has multiple meanings. This book gives substance to the view that we need to break with the habit of defining power exclusively in terms of military capabilities of states. Featuring contributions from distinguished and upcoming scholars it explores facets of power in international politics through a variety of conceptual lenses. Drawing on insights from social theory and placing a particular focus on the phenomenon of soft' power, fifteen chapters assess the meaning of power from the perspectives of realism, constructivism, or development studies, with discussions ranging from conceptual analysis to practical application. Power in World Politics attempts to broaden theoretical horizons and enrich our understanding of the distribution of power in the world we live in, thereby also contributing to the discovery and analysis of new political spaces. This is essential reading for all advanced students and scholars of international relations.Berenskoetter, Felix is the author of 'Power in World Politics ', published 2007 under ISBN 9780415421140 and ISBN 0415421144.