John L. Campbell is the Class of 1925 Professor and Professor of Sociology at Dartmouth College. He is the author of American Discontent and other books. He lives in Lyme, New Hampshire. John A. Hall is the James McGill Professor of Comparative Historical Sociology at McGill University. He is the author of The Importance of Being Civil and other books. He lives in Burlington, Vermont and Montreal, Quebec.

'A surefooted, well-written, and highly intelligent survey of states across the world. It is easily the best account of modern states because it is fully aware of both the great diversity of states and their inter-relations in a global system of states.' Michael Mann, University of California, Los Angeles

• Introduction; 1. The past; 2. Conditions of existence, old and new; 3. Challengers?; 4. States of the Global South; 5. The North; 6. Still the strongest power on Earth?; Conclusion.

John L. Campbell is the Class of 1925 Professor and Professor of Sociology at Dartmouth College. He is the author of American Discontent and other books. He lives in Lyme, New Hampshire. John A. Hall is the James McGill Professor of Comparative Historical Sociology at McGill University. He is the author of The Importance of Being Civil and other books. He lives in Burlington, Vermont and Montreal, Quebec.

'A surefooted, well-written, and highly intelligent survey of states across the world. It is easily the best account of modern states because it is fully aware of both the great diversity of states and their inter-relations in a global system of states.' Michael Mann, University of California, Los Angeles

• Introduction; 1. The past; 2. Conditions of existence, old and new; 3. Challengers?; 4. States of the Global South; 5. The North; 6. Still the strongest power on Earth?; Conclusion.

John L. Campbell is the Class of 1925 Professor and Professor of Sociology at Dartmouth College. He is the author of American Discontent and other books. He lives in Lyme, New Hampshire. John A. Hall is the James McGill Professor of Comparative Historical Sociology at McGill University. He is the author of The Importance of Being Civil and other books. He lives in Burlington, Vermont and Montreal, Quebec.

'A surefooted, well-written, and highly intelligent survey of states across the world. It is easily the best account of modern states because it is fully aware of both the great diversity of states and their inter-relations in a global system of states.' Michael Mann, University of California, Los Angeles

• Introduction; 1. The past; 2. Conditions of existence, old and new; 3. Challengers?; 4. States of the Global South; 5. The North; 6. Still the strongest power on Earth?; Conclusion.