Tracing the evolution of international relations since the onset of the Cold War, the authors of this volume draw on recently available archival resources to narrate world affairs from 1945 to the present. Events are addressed chronologically, with attention to both their motivations and their significance. The focus is on issues of security in the very broadest sense, ranging from politics and economics to ecological and social problems. A distinctive feature of the text is the clear, concise explanation of the key theories and concepts of international relations, supplemented by an extensive glossary. In tying events to IR theory, the authors attempt to make that theory accessible.