The study of international relations has changed rapidly in recent years. One reason is the pace of major political and economic change - the end of the Cold War and the fall of communism, the resurgence of nationalism, terrorism and other forms of fundamentalism, and of course, globalization. Another reason is the development of competing perspectives over how international relations should be defined, conceived, and studied. This is reflected through the ongoing debates on the fundamental paradigms most appropriate for understanding contemporary global politics and the emergence of perspectives such as feminism, postmodernism, constructivism, and critical theory. The "Encyclopedia of International Relations and Global Politics "provides a unique reference source for students and academics covering all aspects of global international relations and the contemporary discipline across IR's major subject divisions of diplomacy, military affairs, and international political economy and theory. Writtenby a distinguished group of international scholars, the "Encyclopedia "is largely comprised of substantial entries of more than 1000 words, with 50 major entries of 5000 words on core contemporary topics. Each entry is fully cross-referenced, followed by a listing of complementary entries, and a short bibliography for further reading. A comprehensive and analytical index guides the user directly to the needed information. A unique resource, the "Encyclopedia of International Relations and Global Politics" will be an extremely valuable addition to all libraries supporting teaching and research in the social sciences.