Book Author: Farhan Hanif Siddiqi, Muhammad Nadeem Mirza
Published by Oxford University Press, Karachi, 2023, Pp 458.
Review by: Ali Raza Jalbani
Pakistani students and aspirants of competitive exams had been feeling the need for a book that provides comprehensive stuff regarding International Relations.
As there are several books by several foreign regarding the introduction of IRs, latest updates were still required. Authors like John Baylis, Patricia Owens, and Steve Smith (Globalization of World Politics), Peu Ghosh (International Relations), Andrew Heywood (Global Politics and others), Robert Jackson and George Soresen (Introduction to IRs, Theories and Approaches), Prakash Chander (International Relations) and several others have made a fruitful contribution in providing books on introduction of IRs.
However, in Pakistan, as far as a book regarding a comprehensive and in-depth introduction of the discipline of IRs is concerned, there was no any recommendable book. So, for this reason students and aspirants of the competitive exams used to study different books of foreign authors for almost every single topic.
Meanwhile, I have been through book Introducing International Relations: Concepts, Theories, and Practices, authored by Dr. Farhan Haneef Siddiqui and Dr. Muhammad Nadeem Mirza, which is really updated and covers most of the areas that an aspirant and a student looks for.
It provides an overview of the evolution of the field, as well as a good content on the major theories, concepts, and issues that inform contemporary international relations.
Both the Authors have remarkably carried out a thought-provoking study and have taken a holistic approach to the subject.
The book, in its all sixteen chapters, examines the political, economic, cultural, and environmental aspects of the subject. By providing crucial understanding of the field, the book highlights the importance of bringing together theoretical foundations with substantive matters existing all around the world politics.
It focuses on the practical side of the theory application in the field of International Relations.
The book includes an introductory chapter which addresses the concept, definition, and evolution of the discipline of International relations.
It cements its content through elaborating essential concepts such as state, nation, government, and sovereignty. Furthermore, it delves into various aspects of international relations, including Strategic Studies, Peace Studies, International Law, Foreign Policy, Balance of Power, Arms Control, Disarmament, Nuclear Non-Proliferation, Conflict Resolution, International Political Economy (IPE), Environment, Feminism, Gender, Identity, Nationalism, and Ethnic Conflict, dedicating thorough attention to each topic. It also presents key points and exercises of the academicians, students and aspirants as well.
To add on, the chapter concerning International Political Economy (IPE) is highly inspiring as it elucidates the significance of IPE in today’s world and explores its associated theories in depth.
Furthermore, the book covers all the main concepts, theories, and practices that students need to understand the agenda of the global setting.
Providing a comprehensive overview of the discipline, from the basics of international relations theory and history to the current debates, the authors have explained various approaches to IR really extensively such as liberal Internationalism, , Complex interdependence Realism, Defensive, Offensive and Structural Realism, the English School of thought, Marxism, Constructivism, Critical Theory, and Postmodernism.
In addition, aspirants often consult with the book of Peu Ghosh when they need to study theoretical debates, as the said author has Ghosh has done a commendable job in it, this book also provides a comprehensive and detailed discussion on debates.
Apart from these topics, this book does not only aid undergrad students or competitive exam aspirants but research scholars as well.
In order to support the research work of the young scholars, It has added a complete chapter on research methodology in International Relations. It has carried out discussion on research design, philosophical debates on ontology and epistemology, linking them practically with methodology. Additionally, it addresses practical research issues like topic exploration, formulating research questions and hypotheses, conceptualizing variables, methods for measurement, and selecting suitable research designs for data collection and analysis.
The book also emphasizes that states are not solely material entities but they also shape ideas and identity. It highlights the rich theoretical and methodological framework of International Relations, spanning diverse and interdisciplinary approaches.
It delineates empirical developments such as the rise of China vis-à-vis the US, Brexit and its effects on EU, the Arab Spring and its aftershocks, and evolving geo-political, geo-economic and geo-strategic dynamics in the South Asian region. The authors have also added analysis of the Post International Politics, Cultural Theory, and non-Western IR theory.
To conclude, the book is written for everyone as it is well-structured and easy to comprehend. Offering thorough research coverage across a wide spectrum of topics, it benefits students, aspirants and scholars.
Overall, the authors have carried out this work admirably and provided a comprehensive introduction to International Relations.
This textbook is worth-reading and can be proved to be a helping hand for the students, job-seekers and research scholars.
Ali Raza Jalbani is a MPhil scholar at Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Email: Razamjalbani66@gmail.com
