Neomedievalism in International Relations

Scattering the International, Elucidating the Empire
1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-041-21871-5
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 244 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm, Gewicht: 524 g

Reihe: New International Relations

In Neomedievalism in International Relations: Scattering the International, Elucidating the Empire, we explore the evolution of Neomedievalism and its transformative role in rethinking world politics. Drawing on Hedley Bull’s concept of a post-state-centric world, the book examines how Neomedievalism, with its metaphorical reference to the Middle Ages, offers a fresh lens through which to understand the fragmentation of state authority, the rise of non-state actors, and the impacts of globalisation and technology.

The book investigates Neomedievalism in International Relations (IR) theory, arguing that it illuminates the process of “scattering the international”—the breakdown of state-centric world politics and the decentralisation of political power. It further shows how Neomedievalism aids in “elucidating the empire,” offering insights into the dynamics of political development, past and present empires, and the growing influence of transnational forces.

By evaluating Neomedievalism as an alternative to state-centric models of world order, the book contributes to the much-needed evolution of global political theory, proposing a path towards a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of contemporary world politics. It will appeal to scholars and students of IR and political theory, particularly those interested in non-state actors, polity formation, informal power, and the evolving structure of world politics.

Zielgruppe

Postgraduate and Undergraduate Advanced

Autoren/Hrsg.

Spalinska, Aleksandra

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Chapter I Rethinking World Politics Through Historical Analogy Chapter II Playing with Medieval Temporalities, Reimagining Present, Past, and Future Chapter III Scattering the International: Overlapping Authorities and Multiple Loyalties in World Politics Chapter IV Elucidating Empire: Medieval Afterlives and Political Development  Chapter V Broken International, Exposed Empire: Neomedievalism and Western Anxieties Conclusions. Weaving the Jigsaw: Neomedievalism, the International, and Empire

Über Autor(innen)

Aleksandra Spalinska is a Research Associate at the School of Global Studies, University of Sussex, and a Visiting Fellow at the Global Security Programme, Pembroke College, University of Oxford, UK. Her professional experience includes research positions at the Polish Academy of Sciences, University of Warsaw, and European University Institute in Florence, Italy. Aleksandra’s research interests encompass the systemic transformation of world politics, theories of world order in transition (including neomedievalism and heterarchy), quasi-state entities, the role of history in International Relations, and historical and creative methods in International Relations and security studies. Her previous books include: The Idea of the New Middle Ages in the Processes of European (Dis)integration, 2017 (in Polish), and Politics and Power Between the Archetype of the Polis and the Universe of New Medievalism, 2019 (in Polish).