This book introduces international relations as a theme in political theory. It assumes that interstate relations, as a variety of social and political relations, can best be understood from the standpoint of political theory, and that the distinction between domestic and international politics is an artificial one.

The author has selected eleven great philosophical and political theorists and through introduction to, and discussion of, their thinking he develops the theme that classical political theory can offer an understanding of international relations in practice. The book presupposes no great command of political theory or international relations.

It should therefore serve both as a foundation for the study of international relations and as a welcome extension to traditional courses in political theory.