International Organizations: Perspectives on Governance in the Twenty-First Century (2nd Edition) [Paperback]

Kelly-Kate S. Pease (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 10, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0130454273 | ISBN-13: 978-0130454270 | Edition: 2

This book provides critical interpretations of international organizations from the perspectives of Marxism, Feminism, Realism, and Liberalism. Using case studies of current crises and events ranging the from Arab and Islamic organizations to the Palestinian uprising to the engineering of Genetically Modified Foods, it is a timely study of how organizations shape and influence world views. Using the perspectives from four approaches, Realism, Liberalism, Marxism, and Feminism, this book uses case studies to illustrate the importance of international organizations and their effect on the world. Topics are reflected by the case studies presented: International Security and the Persian Gulf Crisis and Srebrenica; Regional Security and NATO and the Arab League; Multinational Corporations and the US Clean Air Act and Genetically Modified Foods, Development and the Mexican Peso Crisis and the Indonesian Crisis; the Environment and Global Warming and Whaling; Human Rights and Yugoslavia and Rwanda. For workers in corporations with worldwide interests and for those employed by international organizations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"There are many strengths to this text... The innovation o f this hook is that; rather than focusing solely on liberalism, the author investigates how multiple theoretical approarches—both mainstream and critical—would account for the rise in international organizations in general and specific case studies in particular. The author's multi-theoretical cut of specific instances of international collaboration makes this book both theoretically and empirically relevant... The author uses theory to investigate particular cases of trade, security, environment, and human rights cooperation in international organizations. This is a refreshing approach." — Miriam Elman, Arizona State University

"Pease's book is a nice alternative to other books designed for upper division courses on international organization. The book's focus s on the four main theoretical perspectives is a key contribution to the work." — Timothy Nordstrom, University of Mississippi

"The text does a very ,good job, after two chapters dedicated to central theoretical approaches in the study of international politics, of covering major international organizations central to global relations. Individual chapters deal with all relevant areas of concern, including security, trade, development, environment, and human rights." — Ali K. Abootalebi, University of Wisconsin

From the Back Cover

This book provides critical interpretations of international organizations from the perspectives of Marxism, Feminism, Realism, and Liberalism. Using case studies of current crises and events ranging the from Arab and Islamic organizations to the Palestinian uprising to the engineering of Genetically Modified Foods, it is a timely study of how organizations shape and influence world views. Using the perspectives from four approaches, Realism, Liberalism, Marxism, and Feminism, this book uses case studies to illustrate the importance of international organizations and their effect on the world. Topics are reflected by the case studies presented: International Security and the Persian Gulf Crisis and Srebrenica; Regional Security and NATO and the Arab League; Multinational Corporations and the US Clean Air Act and Genetically Modified Foods, Development and the Mexican Peso Crisis and the Indonesian Crisis; the Environment and Global Warming and Whaling; Human Rights and Yugoslavia and Rwanda. For workers in corporations with worldwide interests and for those employed by international organizations.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 2 edition (August 10, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130454273
• ISBN-13: 978-0130454270
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,918,406 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars elementary, February 19, 2003

By 

"5u5hi" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: International Organizations: Perspectives on Governance in the Twenty-First Century (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

this book assumes that you know nothing of international relations and international organizations. thus, in this context it explains things in a very simple straight forward manner. in addition, pease is repetitive in her analysis of realism, liberalism, marxism and feminism. however, i find that her analysis is limited and fails to take a nuanced approach to the aforementioned theories. in short, her analysis is elementary. i really wouldn't recommend this book to anyone, especially in consideration of the price. to me, a book on international organizations should have a brief theory section, but then examine organizations and their problems in greater depth. furthermore, while reading this book, i was struck with the question of whether or not pease actually wrote this book herself, or if her grad students helped her. there appear to be distinct inconsistencies in writing style between chapters. regardless, this book is mediocre, there are plenty of better scholars.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars okay for highschool, May 6, 2002

By 

Justin Acome (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: International Organizations: Perspectives on Governance in the Twenty-First Century (Paperback)

A noble enterprise indeed, in an understudied field. Theoretical perspectives are the end all and be all of international politics, but Pease's book bites off more than it could ever dream of chewing. Critical theory (Marxist and Feminist) is grossly oversimplified, as she not only leaves the reader with a dearth of literary references to actual writers, but moreover gives these marginal perspectives half the page space that she devotes to Realists and liberals/idealists. The organization of the book, though - offering deductive as well as inductive arguments - is intriguing. The case studies make the book worth buying, though the theoretical synopses that precede them, through questionable portrayals, almost negate their practicality. It is a book without rival only because no one else has undertaken the cause. The book is worth buying, although it is a choice of which Faust himself might approve.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unsettling, June 22, 2004

By 

Katrine Novak (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: International Organizations: Perspectives on Governance in the Twenty-First Century (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

Recent world events demonstrate the need to understand that there are multiple world views that differ from US liberal world view. The UN and other international organizations are, simultaneously, tools of the great powers (the US), agents of imperialism and promotors of democracy, development and human rights. They also reflect masculine values and strategies. Pease strikes the right balance between the theory and practice of international organizations, although an Islamist world view would be helpful in understanding how the UN, NATO, WTO and the Arab League are perceived outside of the West. I recommend this text to anyone interested in understanding the governance of world affairs using the world views others.