World Politics—Interests, Interactions, Institutions

This undergraduate textbook offers visual appeal with color photos, charts, maps, and margin notes on every page. The textbook is organized around a framework that asks: Who are the relevant actors and what do they want? How do they interact? And how do institutions constrain these actors' interactions? An introduction touches on traditional paradigms based on realism, liberalism, and constructivism, but the rest of the book does not refer to those paradigms. After historical background, the text is divided into sections on war and peace, international political economy, transnational politics, and the future of international politics. Boxed features shed light on history, controversies, and current research. A companion website contains interactive study tools, BBC and New York Times news links, and simulations that allow students to work with theoretical models. Frieden is affiliated with Harvard University. Annotation c2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)