ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores how international actors compete for a ‘seat at the table’ in the management of international society and how that competition stratifies the international domain. It aims to develop a theory of ‘international social closure’ to equip international relations to better capture these dynamics, to explain why actors adopt particular strategies in their pursuit or maintenance of status positions, and to understand how these things are significant in the maintenance of international order. The book examines how the closure game is played–how actors exclude others from groups, seek entry to groups, and incorporate others into groups–the primary interest is to understand how clubs integrating multiple types of actors in international society hang together, rather than merely explaining the outcomes of closure strategies. It outlines three international status groups: the Family of Civilised Nations, the Great Powers’ club, and G-summitry.
