International Relations Pre-reading
Hello, good fellows of the Student Room.
I'm starting (hopefully) a course at Cambridge in October in HSPS, focussing on politics and international relations. I've done politics at school, but wanted to get a little pre-reading done on IR so I know what I'm going in to. Based on this, are there any suggestions for decent textbooks on or introductions to the area?
Thanks
I'm starting (hopefully) a course at Cambridge in October in HSPS, focussing on politics and international relations. I've done politics at school, but wanted to get a little pre-reading done on IR so I know what I'm going in to. Based on this, are there any suggestions for decent textbooks on or introductions to the area?
Thanks
(edited 10 years ago)
Baylis and Smith "The Globalization of World Politics" (OUP) is one of the most popular introductory IR textbooks around - they've made an absolute fortune from it!
Jackson and Sorensen "Introduction to International Relations: theories and approaches" (OUP) is another very successful introductory textbook.
Chris Brown "Understanding International Relations" (Palgrave) is also good.
These three will give you a good introduction to what IR is about as a subject and also introduce you to the main theories of IR and some of the main issues.
Personally I would steer clear of Burchill et.al. "Theories of International Relations" (Palgrave) - this was an assigned textbook on an IR Theory class that I helped teach and it's awful.
Jackson and Sorensen "Introduction to International Relations: theories and approaches" (OUP) is another very successful introductory textbook.
Chris Brown "Understanding International Relations" (Palgrave) is also good.
These three will give you a good introduction to what IR is about as a subject and also introduce you to the main theories of IR and some of the main issues.
Personally I would steer clear of Burchill et.al. "Theories of International Relations" (Palgrave) - this was an assigned textbook on an IR Theory class that I helped teach and it's awful.
Original post by Tasha1986
Baylis and Smith "The Globalization of World Politics" (OUP) is one of the most popular introductory IR textbooks around - they've made an absolute fortune from it!
Jackson and Sorensen "Introduction to International Relations: theories and approaches" (OUP) is another very successful introductory textbook.
Chris Brown "Understanding International Relations" (Palgrave) is also good.
These three will give you a good introduction to what IR is about as a subject and also introduce you to the main theories of IR and some of the main issues.
Personally I would steer clear of Burchill et.al. "Theories of International Relations" (Palgrave) - this was an assigned textbook on an IR Theory class that I helped teach and it's awful.
Jackson and Sorensen "Introduction to International Relations: theories and approaches" (OUP) is another very successful introductory textbook.
Chris Brown "Understanding International Relations" (Palgrave) is also good.
These three will give you a good introduction to what IR is about as a subject and also introduce you to the main theories of IR and some of the main issues.
Personally I would steer clear of Burchill et.al. "Theories of International Relations" (Palgrave) - this was an assigned textbook on an IR Theory class that I helped teach and it's awful.
Agree with this 100%. Burchill et.al. is terrible and will likely go straight over your head if the material is new to you.
Posted from TSR Mobile
Thanks, that's really helpful. I've got 3 months to fill post-exams and I thought I may as well put it to good use. Will look into those on Amazon
Oh, re The Globalization... how essential is getting the latest edition? The newest is about £10 more expensive; is it worth it for the ultra-up-to-date examples, or is the theory essentially the same?
Oh, re The Globalization... how essential is getting the latest edition? The newest is about £10 more expensive; is it worth it for the ultra-up-to-date examples, or is the theory essentially the same?
(edited 10 years ago)
Original post by Grauniad
Thanks, that's really helpful. I've got 3 months to fill post-exams and I thought I may as well put it to good use. Will look into those on Amazon
Oh, re The Globalization... how essential is getting the latest edition? The newest is about £10 more expensive; is it worth it for the ultra-up-to-date examples, or is the theory essentially the same?
Oh, re The Globalization... how essential is getting the latest edition? The newest is about £10 more expensive; is it worth it for the ultra-up-to-date examples, or is the theory essentially the same?
The theory is the same so I wouldn't bother paying the extra £10. Once you start your studies you'll soon realise that 'new editions' are released all the time and in many cases all that changes is the preface and a couple of examples! More a way for the publisher to make money...
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- History and Politics at Cambridge
- Can someone explain this about mpharm
- Pre cas preperation session interview
- East Slope Townhouse or En-suite (2024-2025)
- HSPS applicants 2022/23
- Postgraduate funding - physiotherapy
- Learn English as a foreign language at Kingston University
- Should I do a fast track A level?
- April 2023 Home Office- Asylum and Human Rights – Executive Officers
- I want to study Software engineering at a good universities without a-level maths
- psychology
- Legal Career: Questions from a Y13 Student
- extra/super curriculars for econ at uni
- Reading List for masters
- Aerospace/Aeronautical Eng Uni Application
- Strathclyde university
- Nottingham University- change course
- Oxbridge acceptance
- Personal Statements
- Applying for Politics and/or International Relations? Here are some helpful readings!
Latest
Trending
Last reply 2 days ago
Official Politics and/or International Relations Applicants Thread 2024Last reply 3 days ago
Warwick - Politics and International Studies 2024 entryPosted 1 week ago
Which school has a better political science education, UCL or KCL?Last reply 2 weeks ago
International Relations/Politics/History ExtracurricularsTrending
Last reply 2 days ago
Official Politics and/or International Relations Applicants Thread 2024Last reply 3 days ago
Warwick - Politics and International Studies 2024 entryPosted 1 week ago
Which school has a better political science education, UCL or KCL?Last reply 2 weeks ago
International Relations/Politics/History Extracurriculars
