The origins of international conflict are often explained by security dilemmas, power-rivalries or profits for political or economic elites. Common to these approaches is the idea that human behaviour is mostly governed by material interests which principally involve the quest for power or wealth. The authors question this truncated image of human rationality. Borrowing the concept of recognition from models developed in philosophy and sociology, this book provides a unique set of applications to the problems of international conflict, and argues that human actions are often not motivated by a pursuit of utility maximisation as much as they are by a quest to gain recognition. This unique approach will be a welcome alternative to the traditional models of international conflict.

Global justice is of every increasing importance in the contemporary political world. This volume brings a hitherto overlooked perspective – the politics of recognition – to bear on this idea. It considers how discussion of each of these illuminates the problems posed by the other, thus addressing an issue of vital concern for the years to come.

SCOTT (Copy 1): From the John Holmes Library Collection.

Provides students and scholars with a comprehensive compilation of essays, articles, and book selections which bring together the traditional and essential works of Critical Theory and Critical International Relations Theory.