This book is designed as a foundational entry point to International Relations theory. As a beginner’s guide, it has been structured to condense the most important information into the smallest space and present that information in an accessible manner. Like other books in the E-IR Foundations series, this takes the form of an engaging narrative, connecting the reader directly to the issues at hand. The first half of the book covers the theories that are most commonly taught in undergraduate programmes. The book then expands to present emerging approaches and offer wider perspectives. Each chapter sets out the basics of a theory whilst also applying it to a real-world event or issue, creating a lively, readable and relevant guide that will help students to see not only what theories are – but why they matter. Contributors: Victor Adetula, Amitav Acharya, Sandrina Antunes, Lina Benabdallah, Isabel Camisão, Irena Leisbet Ceridwen Connon, Jeff Corntassel, Alix Dietzel, Hugh C. Dyer, Clara Eroukhmanoff, Marcos Farias Ferreira, Dana Gold, Richard Ned Lebow, Aishling Mc Morrow, Jeffrey W. Meiser, Carlos Murillo-Zamora, Sheila Nair, Maïa Pal, Alex Prichard, Felix Rösch, Archie W. Simpson, Sarah Smith, Yannis A. Stivachtis, Sarina Theys, Markus Thiel, Marc Woons and Pichamon Yeophantong. Reviews:“This is a superb book. It offers a comprehensive listing that is imaginatively presented and enormously accessible. Helpfully, too, it takes the form of a global conversation. IR theory at its sparkling best.”– Peter Vale, Professor of Humanities, University of Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela Professor of Politics Emeritus, Rhodes University. “In the plethora of textbooks on IR almost none depart from 'playing it safe', giving forms of instruction in the rudiments of established theories. The great breakout of this volume is its entire second half of proposing quite radical new ways of looking at the world. The book is both 'safe' and 'unsafe' and in both it is sometimes witty in a way that students will savour – learning what IR is, and what it could be. A lovely book.”– Stephen Chan OBE, Professor of World Politics, School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London. "In the plethora of textbooks on IR almost none depart from 'playing it safe', giving forms of instruction in the rudiments of established theories. The great breakout of this volume is its entire second half of proposing quite radical new ways of looking at the world. The book is both 'safe' and 'unsafe' and in both it is sometimes witty in a way that students will savour - learning what IR is, and what it could be. A lovely book in which even the doyens of 'old' IR are sometimes bold." - Stephen Chan OBE, Professor of World Politics, School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London. "This is a superb book. It offers a comprehensive listing that is imaginatively presented and enormously accessible. Helpfully, too, it takes the form of a global conversation. IR theory at its sparkling best." - Peter Vale, Professor of Humanities, University of Johannesburg; Professor of Public Policy and Global Affairs, Nanyang Technological University and Nelson Mandela Professor of Politics Emeritus, Rhodes University. Stephen McGlinchey is Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of the West of England, Bristol and Editor-in-Chief of E-International Relations. Rosie Walters is a PhD candidate at the University of Bristol, UK and an Editor-at-Large of E-International Relations. Christian Scheinp ug is Lead Editor of E-International Relations and a columnist at the Santiago Times.