The second four volumes of this eight volume set provide comprehensive coverage of the factors that determined the evolution of world system in the twentieth century. Between them they consider the central questions of the period: - Why did the 'long peace' of the nineteenth century break down so completely between 1914 and 1945? - How and by what means was a new kind of order created between 1947 and 1991? - Why did this apparently durable system fall apart and with what consequences for the next century? With over 80 thematically organized articles selection by Michael Cox, Volumes 5-8 explore what happened following the collapse of the bipolar order in 1989 and the implications of this transition for the conduct of international relations. Volume Five traces the rise of the new Europe but explains the continuing weakness of Europe as an international actor. Volume Six examines the claim that the new 21st century is more likely to revolve around the Pacific than the United States or the Atlantic. Volume Seven asks the question: whatever happened to the Third Word? Volume Eight explores the possible sources of new challenges to international order following the brutal termination of the short-lived post-Cold War era on September 11, 2001. Together the volumes combine to provide an unparalleled resource providing broad coverage of the subject with historical depth and contemporary relevance. The SAGE Library of International Relations is a new series of major works that will bring together the most influential and field-defining articles, both classical and contemporary, in a number of key areas of research and inquiry in international relations. Each multi-volume set will represent a collection of the essential published works collated from the foremost publications in the field by an Editor or Editorial Team of renowned international stature. They will also include a full introduction, presenting a rationale for the selection and mapping out the discipline's past, present and likely future. This series is designed to be a `gold standard' for university libraries throughout the world with an interest in world politics and international relations.
