ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The corporatist approach to international relations theory and international political economy aims to restore a central concern of political theory since at least the ancient Greeks: international relations among factionalized nations. International political economy began as a branch of international relations theory concerned with the politics of international economic policy. Realism is not a single unified theory, but rather a broad theoretical perspective that shares several common premises. Realists appeal to evidence to defend the validity of their core premises against rival theoretical traditions. Realism has made an important contribution to international relations theory by describing international systems. The second half of this book unfolds through historical chapters. It offers fresh interpretations of not only the latest versions of realism and liberalism, but also their historical predecessors, as well as other perspectives within political economy, including mercantilism, imperialism, nationalism, and globalism.
