Today, more than ever, we live in a global world. Whether it's war, economics, politics, or law, our lives are influenced by a complex web of cross-border transactions.

Dr Charles Jones ably provides the building blocks to understand these interactions, outlining the competing theories that attempt to explain them. Arguing that the strength of International Relations lies in its contradictions - it's not a single discipline but a fascinating mess of history, politics, economics, sociology, law, anthropology, and cultural studies - he provides a lively discussion of the limitations of the field, but also why it is so essential.

Covering conflict, history, and theory, and with a major focus on the global economy, this is the perfect primer for aspiring students of International Relations, workers in an international context, and citizens across the globe.