ABSTRACT
This first chapter provides an overview of the distinctions between international organization and global governance as well as their evolution within the field of international relations. It sets the scene for the publication of the third edition with the ongoing crises of COVID-19, climate change, and the war in Ukraine that have altered substantially many chapters since the previous edition. The unusual framework and original contributions from the six main substantive parts are highlighted. The 55 chapters provide insights into the complexity, the range of sources of authority, and the multiple ways that power and authority are exercised in contemporary world politics. This approach provides building blocks for thinking about world order today and in the future. The aim is to help readers continue the unfinished journey toward a better understanding of global governance as well as comprehend the distance remaining.
