The Palgrave Handbook of International Political Theory: Volume I

Howard Williams · David Boucher · Peter Sutch · David Reidy · Alexandros Koutsoukis

Nov 2023 · Springer Nature

About this eBook

​This handbook provides an exploration of the field of International Political Theory (IPT), which in its broadest terms, examines the ways in which ideas about justice, sovereignty, and legitimacy shape international politics. It is a comprehensive resource for those interested in understanding the philosophical, political, and legal issues that arise from interactions between states, peoples, and global actors. The two volumes of the handbook cover a wide range of topics, from the foundations of international political thought to the latest debates in the field. They are designed to give readers a comprehensive overview of the key concepts and arguments within international political theory and provide an introduction to the main debates in the field.

Volume 1 takes us from the ancient world to the formation of the modern state system as we lay the groundwork for a critical understanding of changes in, and challenges to, core ideas such as sovereignty, international law and territorial integrity. The contributions to this volume explore the European domination of the discipline providing insights into how it came to conceive the world in its own image. They also focus on non-Western perspectives and reactions to European hegemony.

About the author

Howard Williams is Distinguished Honorary Professor in the School of Law and Politics at Cardiff University, and Emeritus Professor of Political Theory in the Department of International Politics at Aberystwyth University, UK.

David Boucher is Professor of Political Philosophy and International Relations at the University of Cardiff, UK, and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg (2015-25), South Africa.

Peter Sutch is Professor of Political and International Theory at Cardiff University, UK. He is also Visiting Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.

David Reidy is Professor of Philosophy at The University of Tennessee, USA.

Alexandros Koutsoukis is Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Central Lancashire, UK.