Richard W. Mansbach (BA Swarthmore College, DPhil Oxford University) is a former Marshall Scholar and three-time Fulbright Scholar. He has authored, co-authored, or edited seventeen books and numerous articles and book chapters largely concerning theory in global politics and foreign policy. His scholarship has extended our understanding of global politics beyond the traditional notion of territorial states interacting in an anarchic system to encompass a wide variety of actors complexly related across a variety of issues. Increasingly, his work has moved from the dominant role of “states” in international relations theory to encompass a changing cast of actors in a globalizing world and toward the concept of “identity” and the role of psychological, as opposed to geographic, distance in determining loyalties and behavior. His scholarship focuses on the critical role of history and norms in understanding change and continuity in global politics and in the movement from pre-international to international and, ultimately, post-international politics in a globalizing world. Among his books several are routinely used in major graduate programs, notably, The Web of World Politics, In Search of Theory: Toward a New Paradigm for Global Politics, The Elusive Quest: Theory and International Politics, Polities: Authority, Identities, and Change, The Elusive Quest Continues: Theory and Global Politics, Remapping Global Politics, Globalization: The return of borders to a borderless world?. In addition, Professor Mansbach was the co-editor of the field’s flagship journal International Studies. He has also served as department chair at Rutgers University (New Brunswick) and at Iowa State University.
Looking for a Reader on globalization that is just as exciting as the topic itself? That comprehensively covers the issues and perspectives you and your students want to talk about? That frames the readings with clear, substantial, and original analysis by a pair of preeminent scholars? In their new edited volume, Mansbach and Rhodes offer the guidance students need to work through the varied and lively selections of scholarly and journalistic, theoretical and practical pieces, from both U.S. and international writers. This reader stands out because: - its coverage of globalization is more extensive than other competing volumes, as the topic is viewed through historical, technological, conomic, political, security, cultural, demographic, and environmental lenses; - five unique sections are dedicated to key cross-cutting questions: the challenge of nationalism; human rights; the debate about whether globalization is good; 'alternative' globalizations; and globalization's future; - a broad mix of readings showcase different viewpoints, many of them non-Western; - readings were chosen for content as well as accessibility; - robust chapter and section introductions and end of chapter pedagogy are carefully crafted to provide needed context and encourage an active learning focus.
