47 International Relations
Advanced Energy Policy
Brandi Robinson (Pennsylvania State University)
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA
Energy policy is typically evolutionary as opposed to revolutionary. We can look to historical policies to understand how we’ve inherited the policies governing our energy use today. But looking backward only tells us part of the story. In the face of climate change, we need to look ahead and instead envision a more revolutionary change to our energy systems and the policies that govern them. This class takes you on that journey to energy policies past, present, and future. We look at the political realities of addressing climate change at various scales of governance and work together to craft our own ideal scenarios of what a responsible energy future will be.
Formats: Online, HTML
Suggested for: INTR 395
Human Security in World Affairs: Problems and Opportunities (2nd Edition)
Edited by Alexander Lautensach and Sabina Lautensach (University of Northern British Columbia)
2020
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA
This first and only university textbook of human security, intended as an introductory text from senior undergraduate level up, and includes chapters by 24 authors that encompass the full spectrum of disciplines contributing to the human security field. It is based on the four-pillar model of socio-political security, economic security, environmental security and health security. The chapters include learning outcomes, extension activities, and suggested readings; a comprehensive glossary lists key terms used throughout the book. This textbook can be used in courses on international studies and relations, political studies, history, human geography, anthropology and human ecology, futures studies, applied social studies, public health, and more.
Formats: Online, EPUB, MOBI, and PDF
Suggested for: INTR 330
Immigrant and Refugee Families, 2nd Ed: Global Perspectives on Displacement and Resettlement Experiences
Jaime Ballard, Elizabeth Wieling, Catherine Solheim, and Lekie Dwanyen
2019
Licence: CC BY-NC
This book offers an interdisciplinary perspective on immigrant and refugee families’ challenges and resilience across multiple domains, including economic, political, health, and human rights. This new edition has been revised and updated from the original 2016 edition.
Formats: Online, PDF, EPUB, and more
Suggested for: INTR 395
International Relations
Edited by Stephen McGlinchey (E-International Relations)
2017
Licence: CC BY-NC
The perfect book to get you started, or get caught back up, with International Relations. As a ‘Day 0’ beginner’s guide, this textbook condenses the most important information into the smallest space and present concepts in an accessible way. The chapters build up the foundations for understanding how the world works and then explore the key global issues that concern the discipline – taking readers from no knowledge to competency. The journey starts by examining how the international system was formed and ends by reflecting that International Relations is always adapting to events and is therefore a never-ending journey of discovery. The book is designed to capture attention with an engaging narrative that places the reader inside crucial issues and debates so they can understand how things work, and where they fit in the world around them.
Format: PDF
Suggested for: INTR 330
International Relations Theory
Edited by Stephen McGlinchey, Rosie Walters, and Christian Scheinpflug (E-International Relations)
2017
Licence: CC BY-NC
This text covers introductory concepts in political science. It covers concepts in political science, from constructivism to postcolonialism. This book is designed as a foundational entry point to International Relations theory – structured to condense the most important information into the smallest space and present that information in an accessible manner. The first half of the book covers the theories that are most commonly taught in undergraduate programs. The book then expands to present emerging approaches and offer wider perspectives. Each chapter sets out the basics of a theory whilst also applying it to a real-world event or issue, creating a lively, readable and relevant guide that will help students to see not only what theories are – but why they matter.
Formats: PDF
Suggested for: INTR 330
Language and Culture in Context: A Primer on Intercultural Communication
Robert Godwin-Jones (Virginia Commonwealth University)
Licence: CC BY-NC
This text introduces some of the key concepts in intercultural communication as traditionally presented in (North American) courses and textbooks, namely the study of differences between cultures, as represented in the works and theories of Edward Hall and Geert Hofstede. Common to these approaches is the prominence of context, leading to a view of human interactions as dynamic and changeable, given the complexity of language and culture, as human agents interact with their environments.
Formats: PDF, Word, EPUB
Navigating the Space Between Us
Robert Gould (Portland State University)
2021
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA
Navigating the Space Between Us – Finding Connection, while Embracing the Continua of Difference: A Dilemma Driven Conflict Analysis was developed as an upper division undergraduate textbook for a conflict resolution CR 310U Values and Ethics course (required for a PSU bachelor’s degree in CR) and adaptable to a conflict resolution CR 513 graduate course (required for PSU master’s degree in CR). Its intended audience are students from Portland State University enrolled in a ten week, quarter system, though it is adaptable for a semester length course. The chapters are combined with other readings on conflict resolution values and ethics. This open access textbook may be used to supplement resources for other courses that address aspects of conflict resolution values and ethics.
Formats: Online, PDF and EPUB
Putting Knowledge to Work: Collaborating, Influencing and Learning for International Development
Edited by Luc J.A. Mougeot (International Development Research Centre)
2017
Licence: CC BY
Dramatic changes in the ecosystem for international development are now pressing civil society organizations (CSOs) to invest more in knowledge to remain significant players. While the need for creative thinking and experimentation is greater than ever, there is still very little research published on challenges experienced and solutions found by CSOs as they adjust to the global changes underway.
Funders and beneficiaries are pressing CSOs to be more professional and efficient, and more strategic and impactful, but the key role that knowledge plays in the efforts of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) remains often underrated, even by NGOs themselves. Putting Knowledge to Work explores how the brains of such organizations actually function to deliver outcomes and impacts.
Upstream from end results themselves, the book examines how CSOs access, generate, apply, and grow their intelligence, knowledge, and know-how to protect children, improve public security, reduce ethnic discrimination, grow local value chains, expand water resources, and generally make our societies more inclusive and just. How do CSOs obtain the knowledge they need to accomplish these tasks? How do they cooperate with other organizations to produce workable knowledge? And how do they learn from practice to increase their impact?
This book should be read by students and researchers in the field of international development, and those who work at CSOs, in government, and for philanthropic organizations.
Format: PDF
Suggested for: INTR 230
Realism in Practice
Davide Orsi, J. R. Avgustin & Max Nurnus
Licence: CC BY-NC
This politics text covers issues in realism using a practical approach. It covers concepts in realism, from the refugee crisis to peaceful change.
Formats: PDF
Rethinking Canadian Aid, Second Edition
Edited by Stephen Brown (University of Ottawa), Molly den Heyer (St. Francis Xavier University and Dalhousie University), and David R. Black (Dalhousie University)
2016
Licence: CC BY-NC-SA
This revised edition not only analyzes Canada’s past development assistance, it also highlights important new opportunities in the context of the recent change in government. Designed to reach a variety of audiences, contributions by twenty scholars and experts in the field offer an incisive examination of Canada’s record and initiatives in Canadian foreign aid, including its relatively recent emphasis on maternal and child health and on the extractive sector, as well as the longer-term engagement with state fragility. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in Canada’s changing role in the world. (Description from UO Press)
Format: PDF