The Hierarchy of States: Reform and Resistance in the International Order

by Ian Clark and Ian Clark

Book Overview

Combining a detailed examination of theory with a full and up-to-date account of historical development, this study analyzes the nature of the international order--the hierarchical state system--and explores its potential for reform. The theoretical account is given tracing two traditions of thought in the writings of Kant and Rousseau, while the historical survey explores the evolution of international organizations since 1815, covering such aspects...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0521378613
• ISBN13: 9780521378611
• Release Date: November 1989
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A thought provoking work on international relations theory

Clark's "Hierarchy" is a concise, well written book that covers issues of Kantian optimism, pessimism, and balance of power when analyzing interntaional reltaions, starting from the Congree of Vienna in 1815. Whether the author's structural breakdown of the last 200 years of European IR is perfectly accurate or not should not be the focus. Instead, the book is important because of the strength of the argument laid forth by Clark. A highly technical work, it is not easy reading, yet any person well grounded in IR theory will benefit from reading this book.