This is a collection of Friedrich Kratochwil's key essays to explain his approach to international relations and how his thinking has developed over the last 30 years. The text addresses topical themes and issues, including sovereignty, law, epistemology, boundaries, global governance and world society.

Friedrich Kratochwil is the author of the classic book: Rules, Norms and Decisions (1989), which introduced constructivism to international relations and has had a profound and significant impact on the discipline.

The Puzzle of Politics brings together for the first time a collection of his key essays to explain his approach to international relations and how his thinking has developed over the last 30 years. It addresses topical themes and issues central to his work including sovereignty, law, epistemology, boundaries, global governance and world society.

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Examines the different types of border disputes by going beyond the traditional questions of 'titles of territory' and issues of the location of the boundary. Through an historical analysis, the authors show that boundaries serve a variety of functions depending on the social relationships they were intended to mediate. Eight case studies are cited as examples to examine alternative strategies for resolving disputes. Co-published with the Institute of War and Peace at Columbia University.

Friedrich Kratochwil's book explores the role of law in the international arena and the key discourses surrounding it. It explains the increased importance of law for politics, from law-fare to the judicialization of politics, to human rights, and why traditional expectations of progress through law have led to disappointment. Providing an overview of the debates in legal theory, philosophy, international law and international organizations, Kratochwil reflects on the need to break down disciplinary boundaries and address important issues in both international relations and international law,...