"While there is a general consensus that world politics has experienced more changes in the last three years than in the previous forty-five, the significance of these changes remains the subject of much dispute." "In this book leading academics identify the key issues and dilemmas arising from these changes, offering in-depth analyses of key contemporary issues such as war and technology, the environment, the future role of the USA, the implications of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the role of Islam, the future for conflict resolution, and terrorism." "What emerges is a recognition of the need for the international system to address itself to a wide range of pressing questions--some of them entirely new--with potentially profound implications for the states, organizations, and individuals of which it is comprised." "These issues and dilemmas are put in context by an introductory section, which identifies the leading methods and approaches in contemporary international relations and offers a concise explanation of key terms and concepts. The introduction illustrates the complexity of the problems confronting the international system while emphasizing their interrelatedness. This book provides an invaluable guide for all students of the subject."--BOOK JACKET.