This text provides a cutting edge analysis of the increasingly central role think tanks play in societies worldwide. Examining their control of global resources both in economic and political policy fields and their inroads into structures of power, it addresses key questions. How have think thanks reached these positions of power? Has the northern core produced neoliberal clones that have hydra-like colonised the globe? Who funds and controls these think tanks and for what purpose? How is policy making knowledge created? How are new policy ideas propagated and validated? How do think tanks become dominant sources of knowledge in public spheres including the media? Exploring the dynamics of think tank networks in specific regions and countries, this book considers the coalitions they generate to advance the social purpose they endorse and, in particular, the spaces they occupy in the structures and fields of power at the national, regional and global level.

Private Organisation in Global Politics is a groundbreaking study which brings together a broad range of case-studies to examine the role and character of private organisations in the process of political globalization. Focusing on areas such as human rights organisations, the international women's movement and the combating of disease, the panel of expert contributors investigate the function of these in relation to governance in the globalizing world.

The involvement of non-state actors in world politics can hardly be characterised as novel, but intensifying economic and social exchange and the emergence of new modes of international governance have given them much greater visibility and, many would argue, a more central role. Non-state Actors in World Politics offers analyses of a diverse range of economic, social, legal (and illegal), old and new actors, such as the Catholic Church, trade unions, diasporas, religious movements, transnational corporations and organised crime.

Introduction to Global Politics, Fourth Edition, provides students with a current, engaging, and non-U.S. perspective on global politics. It shows students how to analyze global political events using theoretical approaches-both mainstream and alternative-and emphasizes non-state actors more than any other global politics text. Chapter-by-Chapter Revisions Chapter 1: Introduction to Global Politics -Expanded theoretical coverage introduces students to the three theoretical traditions in international relations theory: Machiavellian, Grotian, and Kantian -New Case Study: "Global Production and the iPhone" Chapter 2: The Evolution of Global Politics -Revised chapter-opening vignette addresses the goals of nation-states for survival and influence in the global system and how critical trends, such as the diffusion of power and increasing demands for vital resources, influence such goals -Expanded coverage of US-Cuba relations addresses the restoration of diplomatic ties -Further examination of the war on terrorism, including the completion of NATO's International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan and its subsequent transition to the ongoing Resolute Support Mission -Updated Global Perspective "Perception, Continuity, and Change After January 20, 2009" addresses the continuing course of the Arab Spring -Updated statistics and graphics include "Estimated Global Nuclear Warheads, as of 2015," and "Number of Wars in Progress Since 1950" Chapter 3: Realism, Liberalism, and Critical Theories -Elimination of overlapping content between Chapter 3 and the first two introductory chapters, effectively streamlining the chapter and bringing its objectives of defining and describing the origins of IR theories, as well as explaining the relation among the levels of analysis and the different variations of the five schools of thought, into clearer focus -The latest on the most pertinent international relations matters including how world leaders should deal with extremist networks like the Islamic State Chapter 4: Making Foreign Policy -Further coverage and analysis of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, including the goals of the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference -Expanded discussion of fragile states, including updates to the Fragile State Index -Discussion of foreign policy evaluation has been expanded to include criticism of the CIA's detention and treatment of prisoners taken in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan -Additional examples of NGO influence on human rights (i.e. Human Rights Watch pressuring the Chinese government to abolish its re-education through labor detention system) -Updated statistics and graphics include "Top Ten Foreign Aid Donors" and the addition of a new figure "Share of World Military Expenditures of the 15 States with the Highest Expenditure" Chapter 5: Global and Regional Governance -Revised chapter-opening vignette addresses the impact of the Tunisian National Dialogue as a civil society organization and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize -Updated examples of venture philanthropy include Facebook co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg's pledge to donate 99 percent of his wealth -Updated Case Study "A Global Campaign: The Baby Milk Advocacy Network" includes recent statistics from the World Health Organization. -Updated statistics and graphics include "INGO Growth Continues" and "Distribution of Think Tanks in the World" Chapter 6: Global Security, Military Power, and Terrorism -Updated information on conflicts including the Syrian civil war, the rise of the Islamic State and their goal to establish an Islamic Caliphate, and the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic to prevent civil wars and sectarian conflicts -Condensed coverage of mainstream and critical approaches to security in order to eliminate overlapping content found in Chapter 3: Realism, Liberalism, and Critical Theories -Added examples of the importance of collective action and reliance on international/regional organization (i.e. in the case of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal) -Expanded discussion of the effects of nuclear weapons and the idea that the international community is experiencing a new nuclear age in which weapons of mass destruction are used to secure strategic advantage -Updated Case Study "US Drone Warfare: A Robotic Revolution in Modern Combat" includes recent statistics on drone strikes -Updated information on the spread of jihadists, Al Qaeda, and ISIS and the geographical extent to which the Obama Administration (and future administrations) will have to go to find them -Updated statistics and graphics include "Arms Deliveries Worldwide," "Arms Transfer Agreements Worldwide"; the addition of two new figures: "Top Locations of Islamic State Twitter Users" and "Thirteen Years of Terror in Western Europe;" the addition of a new map: "Where ISIS Has Directed and Inspired Attacks;" and the addition of a table detailing the inter-actor relationship of those involved in the Syrian civil war Chapter 7: Human Rights and Human Security -Added information on the latest human rights crises (i.e. the refugee crisis, the Syrian civil war, and South Sudan) -New Case Study "A Failed Intervention" on the genocide occurring in Darfur -Updated statistics on current UN peacekeeping operations Chapter 8: Global Trade and Finance -Updated analysis on the current status of global economic interconnection (i.e. the role that governmental intervention has on the economy of their nation-states--including free markets, the impact of the slowdown of China's economy, and the effects of increasing global foreign direct investment) -New discussion of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and its subsequent implications as the largest regional trade agreement in history -Updated Theory in Practice "Contending Views of Capitalism" reflects recent changes in the Chinese economy and cyberwarfare tactics it uses against the US -Updated statistics and graphics include "Main Trading Nations," "Real GDP Growth," and the addition of a new graph "Holdings of US Treasury Securities" Chapter 9: Poverty, Development, and Hunger -Added discussion on the results of the Millennium Development Goals process (including an updated Progress Chart for UN Millennium Development Goals) and the UN's subsequent adoption of the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (illustrated by Sustainable Development Goals). -Updated discussions of world population statistics and estimated population growth projections, including new graphics "Projected World Population" and "Fastest Growing Populations" Chapter 10: Environmental Issues -Discussion of the latest environmental issues including the rising number of carbon emissions emitted on the planet, the effect climate change and environmental degradation are having as causes of major violence in regards to specific ethnic communities that compete for scarce resources, and how 2015 was the hottest year in recorded history -Added discussion of how climate change is the greatest challenge to economic and political stability across the world -Revised discussion of the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report addresses the rise of global surface temperatures, the continued shrinking of sea ice, and how human influence correlates to climate change and increasing levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere -Added information and analysis of the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference, its outcomes, and the importance of adhering to pledges to curb emissions and keeping global temperature rises under 2 degrees Celsius; new concluding thoughts and analysis added as well -A revised table detailing "Recent Global Environmental Actions" focuses on events and actions of the past thirty years -Updated statistics and graphics include "Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Type of Gas," and two new graphics: "Number of Oils Spills between 1970-2015" and "Largest Producers of CO2 Emissions Worldwide."

This completely revised edition of Global Think Tanks: Policy Networks and Governance provides a clear description of, and context for, the global proliferation of think tanks. It explores the origins, development, and diversity of think tanks and policy networks, discusses past and current issues facing transnational think tanks, and considers the possible future challenges and developments. The updated content reflects recent trends such as globalization, digitalization, diversity, populism, and disinformation; and it also includes a new chapter on the impact of emerging technologies on global think tanks and governance. The book: identifies, maps, and analyzes these phenomena of proliferation, expansion, and networking; provides a primer and a roadmap for global public policy practitioners, participants, and the interested public; illustrates the global growth of think tanks that the world has experienced over the past eight years; analyzes the impact and emerging potential of new technologies and increasing diversity; and considers how global think tanks and policy networks can continue to improve their impact and overall reach. This volume will be of great interest to all students of international relations and international organizations, alongside policy professionals working at think tanks around the world.

This important Handbook is a comprehensive guide to the role, function and perceived impact of policy research-oriented institutions in North America, Europe and beyond. Over 20 international scholars explore the diverse and eclectic world of think tanks to reveal their structure, governance and unique position in occupying a critical space on the public-policy landscape.

This book explores the issues which currently are troubling the world. Areas such as North American as well as South America are explored. Chinese involvement on the International Arena is analysed. The conflict in the Middle East is explained. The role of NATO in today's time is questioned. New wars and American policy towards Iran is discussed.

In the 21st century, think tanks have become more than a buzzword in European public discourse. They now play important roles in the policy-making process by providing applied research, building networks and advocating policies. The book studies the development of think tanks and contemporary consequences in the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark and at the EU-level. A Continental think tank tradition in which the state plays a pivotal role and an Anglo-American tradition which facilitates interaction in public policy on market-like terms have shaped the development of think tanks. On the basis of a typology of think tanks, quantitative data and interviews with think tank practitioners, the interplay between state and market dynamics and the development of different types of think tanks is analysed. Although think tanks develop along different institutional trajectories, it is concluded that the Anglo-American tradition has had a significant, cross-cutting impact in Europe in recent years. The contention over the politics of think tanks runs deeper at the EU-level than in the member states and reflects disagreement over how the EU should develop in the future. This text will be of key interest to scholars, students and practitioners of political communication, public policy, European politics and comparative politics.

This book written for introductory-level students of global politics examines the connections and conflicts among peoples on our planet and relates them in a personalized way. While other world politics texts examine the globe from a distance, this text emphasizes the voices of those engaged in political struggles over the complexities of health, resources, the environment, economics, and ultimately power and its multiple conceptions. Throughout, students are challenged to engage in global politics and citizen movements.

This book analyzes how Chinese think tanks have become essential actors in today’s Chinese foreign policy and diplomatic practices. By providing an in-depth analysis of their roles, functions and transformation in the last decade, this study explains how they differ from their Western counterparts and how they have developed during Hu Jintao’s and Xi Jinping’s mandates. Think tanks are often thought to only be able to gain access to political processes within democratic contexts. This book suggests that even in the more ambiguous Chinese political environment, think tanks remain essential actors where ideas, discourses and beliefs about foreign policy and diplomacy are generated, framed and discussed vis-à-vis China’s ascent role in international affairs and global governance.