This text provides a comprehensive account of the most salient political issues in world politics and explains their significance in a way that is accessible to students and non-specialists alike. The end of the Cold War led to a widespread feeling of relief and talk of a new world order. Optimism however was short-lived and a whole range of difficult new issues, including ethnic conflict, refugees, terrorism and world security, have come to the fore. A number of ethical and moral issues such as poverty, human rights and religion has moved up the agenda of world politics. A new set of problems--involving the environment, technology, and health care--has impacted on the policy systems of states and international organizations. The contributors to this collection provide a basis for understanding emerging issues on the global stage.

Don MacIver is Lecturer in Politics at Staffordshire University.