Interstate Relations in Classical Greece
Interstate Relations in Classical Greece
$120.00
USDIn this book Dr Low explores the assumptions and principles which determined the conduct and representation of interstate politics in Greece during the fifth and fourth centuries BC. She employs a wide range of ancient evidence, both epigraphic and literary, as well as some contemporary theoretical approaches from the field of International Relations. Taking a thematic rather than a chronological approach, she addresses topics such as the nature of interstate society in the Greek world; the sources, scope and enforcement of 'international law'; the nature of interstate ethics and morality; interventionism and imperialism; and the question of change and stability. She argues that classical Greece's reputation for unrestrained and unsophisticated diplomacy is undeserved, and shows that relations between Greek city-states were shaped by and judged according to a complex network of customs, beliefs and expectations which pervaded all areas of interstate behaviour.
- Encompasses the whole classical period rather than focussing on specific episodes
- Uses a wide range of evidence, especially moving away from Thucydides
- Engages with contemporary international theory
Reviews & endorsements
Review of the hardback: 'Polly Low's theoretically-informed study of interstate relations in ancient Greece is … a welcome addition to an emerging dialogue between ancient historians and political scientists.' Scholia Reviews
Product details
May 2007Hardback
9780521872065
324 pages
225 × 145 × 25 mm
0.56kg
Available
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Part I. International Relations and Ancient History:
- 1. A case study: Professor Sir Alfred Zimmern
- 2. Traditions of international relations: the history of the discipline
- 3. International relations and ancient history
- 4. Idealism, realism, and the problem of norms
- 5. Conclusion: the Ecclesia and the League of Nations
- Part II. Structuring Interstate Relations:
- 1. Introduction: society, system, and anarchy
- 2. No such thing as society? A system of reciprocal relationships
- 3. Reciprocity as the basis for a society
- 4. Multilateral societies and panhellenic communities
- 5. Conclusion: some examples
- Part III. An Anarchic Society? International Law and International Custom:
- 1. Introduction: law and society
- 2. Greek law, international law and Greek international law
- 3. The sources and scope of Greek international law
- 4. Application, enforcement and the problem of sanctions
- 5. Conclusions
- Part IV. Domestic Morality, Interstate Morality:
- 1. Introduction: a domestic analogy?
- 2. Moral language: individuals and groups, selves and others
- 3. Assumptions of and arguments for similarity
- 4. Arguments for difference? Power, self-interest and justice
- 5. Conclusions
- Part V. Norms and Politics: The Problem of Intervention:
- 1. Introduction: the importance of intervention
- 2. Helping the wronged: intervention as an ideal
- 3. Intervention, autonomy and autonomia
- 4. Intervention, imperialism and ideology
- 5. Conclusions
- Part VI. Stability and Change:
- 1. Introduction: an evaded dimension
- 2. A stable system
- 3. The problem of Thucydides
- 4. The Athenian Empire: structures, institutions and ethics
- 5. Conclusion.
