Theories of War and Peace (International Security Readers)

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Summary: All You Need to Know about International Relations?
Review: "Theories of War and Peace" edited by Brown, et. al. gives the reader of International Relations a "one stop shop" of various theories of International Relations. The list of contributors to this volume is impressive and the editors arrange the essays in such a way as to naturally follow and even (at times) rebut that which came before.

Rating:
Summary: A good book
Review: Like most of "International Security" readers, this is also a compendium of realist authors in IR theory. It is more of the same until you read the wonderful response to John Mearsheimer written by Alexander Wendt. His text is worth the book. Even today Mearsheimer doesn't understand what Wendt has to say so well. If you're really into realism, maybe you should check (from the same series) "Perils of Anarchy". I think it's a lot better.

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Summary: An Invaluable Guide to the Latest Thinking in IR
Review: This book is a collection of essays from academic journals written by the top professors in the field of International Relations. As such it will be of little interest to the general reader. But to the student of IR it is one of the best compilations available. Included are Mearsheimers classic 'Back to the Future' and 'The False Promise of International Institutions'. One of the more interesting sections in the book concerns the latter piece and vigorous resonses to it. Also included in the book are Stephen Van Evera's theory of First Mover Advantages, and Dale Copeland's application of dynamic realism to trade relations. Truly a volume of gems, it should be bought by any serious student of International Politics.