The Transition of Global Order

Abstract

This is one of those rare books that may become an instant classic. Terhalle convincingly offers a framework that helps us understand the ongoing transition of global order by looking closely at the re-negotiations of the rules of the game underlying 21st Century world politics. He presents a middle-model that captures the pluralist dynamics of today's global politics, successfully navigating between the Scylla of US-centric and the Charybdis of Euro-centric tunnel visions of global order. In that the book displays a thorough understanding of the reciprocal nature of the US-China relationship in shaping order transition." -Jochen Prantl, Australian National University, Australia "This ambitious book makes an important contribution to our understanding of how international order is legitimated, contested, and transformed. Dr Terhalle's analysis, grounded in extensive empirical research, of how the United States and China are engaged in a process he calls reciprocal socialization should be of deep interest to scholars and policy-makers alike. This book productively integrates the insights of both material power-based and ideas-based theories of power politics and global governance to develop a comprehensive account of how the relationship between China and the United States is in the process of reshaping multiple dimensions of our international order." -Mlada Bukovansky, Smith College, USA "Maximilian Terhalle painstakingly examines how world politics has begun to change in the last few years in ways we all still struggling to understand fully. He arrives at conclusions which challenge many conventional wisdoms and preconceived notions about international order and global governance. Broadly based, thoroughly researched and tightly argued, his study is essential reading for anyone interested in the future of international relations, both as an academic field of inquiry and the reality with which decision-makers have to deal." -Hanns W. Maull, Trier University, Germany "The Transition of Global Order asks what may be the single most important question in international relations today: how the rise of China and other non-western powers will affect the character of the liberal international order. Professor Terhalle examines the interplay of common culture (or its lack), rules, coercion, and governance effectiveness in shaping the outcome." -Jack Snyder, Columbia University, USA "This original study of challenges to the global order features a dual focus on the United States and China -not only in relation to each other ('the rise of China' and its implications for the US position in the world), but also how they act vis-à-vis other states, and, especially international institutions. The author explores why China has failed to fully socialize into mainly US-dominated, or at least US-created, institutions. He pairs that inquiry with one of the US failure to become enmeshed in international institutions and fully participate in what some have called the 'constitutionalization' of international relations. Thus the study ...