International Organizations 3ed

Now in its third edition, this leading undergraduate textbook has been revised and updated throughout to take account of recent developments in world politics. Concise and engagingly written, the book is core reading for courses on international organizations, international law and politics, and global governance. Unlike other textbooks in the field, it takes readers behind the scenes of the world’s most important international institutions to explore their legal authority and the political controversies that they generate. It presents chapter-length case studies of the world’s leading international organizations, with attention to the legal, political, and practical aspects. The new edition adds depth to the discussion of international relations theory and features new case material on Brexit, the Argentine sovereign debt, the Syrian war, the cholera epidemic in Haiti, and more.

Editorial Reviews

‘Ian Hurd’s International Organizations has established itself as one of the most accessible and insightful textbooks on this important topic. Offering a world tour of the UN, the WTO, and other key institutions, it dives deeply into the daily practice of those institutions with thoughtful and thought-provoking examinations of the interplay of law and politics.’ Simon Chesterman, Dean and Professor, National University of Singapore Faculty of Law, and Editor of the Asian Journal of International Law

‘In this new edition, Ian Hurd again gives an extremely well-balanced and nuanced picture of the power and limits, the benefits and deficiencies, of international organizations in world politics. My students enjoy being introduced to IOs with this book.’ Gisela Hirschmann, Assistant Professor of International Relations, Institute for Political Science, Leiden University

‘Hurd’s textbook seamlessly integrates the law and politics of international organizations. Combining theory with many real-world examples of different IOs in action, he offers an ideal introduction to the field for students in multiple disciplines. By viewing IOs as actors, fora, and resources, he demonstrates their multiple roles – and the challenges they face – in global affairs today.’ Steven R. Ratner, Bruno Simma Collegiate Professor of Law, University of Michigan Law School
– From the Publisher