MACMILLAN Non-Western Global Theories of International Relations (Palgrave Studies in International Relations)

This book seeks to reposition international relations (IR) theory by providing insights into non-Western concepts and theories. By engaging with understandings of power, identity, the state and the individual from a range of states outside of the Western hemisphere, the contributors to this book introduce new methods for understanding aspects of IR in context considerate ways. Engagements with Western theories and cases highlight how we need to reposition traditional understandings to allow non-Western approaches to IR develop alongside and inform their Western counterparts. Moreover, the book reinforces the need to move beyond the traditionally used Western-centric lenses without removing them completely, instead it advocates a harmonisation between them to reduce generalisations across the local, state and regional levels. Review “A timely, critical, and unquestionably needed book in the field of International Relations. ‘Non-Western Global Theories’ is a brave attempt to bring into perspective a significant, though often forgotten, fact that most of the established theories in the field of International Relations, are not truly ‘international’, instead they are dominated by Western understandings. The book thus invites us to reposition International Relations Theory to move closer to being ‘international’ or ‘global’.” ―Dr Helia Rahbari, University of Aberdeen, Scotland “This book offers an empirically rich and theoretically grounded contribution to the field of IR. Its deliberation to avoid a ‘centrism trap’ through ‘repositioning’ Western Theory while actively engaging with Non-Western Theory is a much-needed endeavour at this particular historical juncture.” ―Dr Kailing Xie, University of Birmingham, England From the Back Cover This book seeks to reposition international relations (IR) theory by providing insights into non-Western concepts and theories. By engaging with understandings of power, identity, the state and the individual from a range of states outside of the Western hemisphere, the contributors to this book introduce new methods for understanding aspects of IR in context considerate ways. Engagements with Western theories and cases highlight how we need to reposition traditional understandings to allow non-Western approaches to IR develop alongside and inform their Western counterparts. Moreover, the book reinforces the need to move beyond the traditionally used Western-centric lenses without removing them completely, instead it advocates a harmonisation between them to reduce generalisations across the local, state and regional levels. Samantha Cooke is Senior Lecturer in International Relations and Politics at the University of Gloucestershire. Her work explores the relationship between secularism, the individual and the state in the Middle East North Africa region. About the Author Samantha Cooke is Senior Lecturer in International Relations and Politics at the University of Gloucestershire. Her work explores the relationship between secularism, the individual and the state in the Middle East North Africa region.