The Evolution of Power Concept(s) in International Relations

Power remains central to International Relations (IR) theory, yet scholars lack consensus on its definition. This book offers a comprehensive analysis of the concept of power in International Relations (IR), addressing one of the discipline’s most fundamental yet contested ideas. This book explores the historical and theoretical origins of major power conceptualizations—spanning realism, liberalism, constructivism, and post-structuralism—and applies them to a real-world crisis, the 1998 Turkish-Syrian October Crisis. The book poses three critical questions: What accounts for the multitude of power conceptualizations in International Relations? How has a particular conceptualization of power developed its specific meaning? What are the primary characteristics and focal points of the existing power conceptualizations in the discipline? This book provides a vital resource for graduate students and researchers navigating the complexities of IR theory and offers valuable tools for applying theory to real-world phenomena.