Andrew F. Cooper – författare

No longer content to fade away into comfortable retirement, a growing number of former political leaders have pursued diplomatic afterlives. From Nelson Mandela to Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton, to Tony Blair and Mikhail Gorbachev, this set of highly-empowered individuals increasingly try to make a difference on the global stage by capitalizing on their free-lance celebrity status while at the same time building on their embedded ?club? attributes and connections.

In this fascinating book, Andrew F. Cooper provides the first in-depth study of the motivations, methods, and contributions made by these former leaders as they take on new responsibilities beyond service to their national states. While this growing trend may be open to accusations of mixing public goods with private material gain, or personal quests to rehabilitate political image, it must ? he argues ? be taken seriously as a compelling indication of the political climate, in which powerful individuals can operate outside of established state structures. As Cooper ably shows, there are benefits to be reaped from this new normative entrepreneurism, but its range and impact nonetheless raise legitimate concerns about the privileging of unaccountable authority.

Mixing big picture context and illustrative snapshots, Diplomatic Afterlives offers an illuminating analysis of the influence and the pitfalls of this highly visible but under-scrutinized phenomenon in world politics.

The fall of the Berlin Wall and the disintegration of the Soviet Union were only two of the many events that profoundly altered the international political system in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In a world no longer dominated by Cold War tensions, nation states have had to rethink their international roles and focus on economic rather than military concerns. This book examines how two middle powers, Australia and Canada, are grappling with the difficult process of relocating themselves in the rapidly changing international economy.

The authors argue that the concept of middle power has continuing relevance in contemporary international relations theory, and they present a number of case studies to illustrate the changing nature of middle power behaviour. In particular, they examine the trend towards the amalgamation of the foreign and trade ministries in both Canada and Australia and the growing importance of regional trading blocs, particularly Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Relocating Middle Powers is the first book to explore the similarities and differences in the foreign policies of two middle powers in a new era of international relations.

This book gives a new compelling meaning to the metaphor of ‘Global South’ against the background of the global political challenge to international order, driven not only through the BRICS grouping, but also by the activities of middle powers striving to alter the political status quo.

Expert contributors highlight the interplay between politics, economy, and security, offering insights into how the Global South perceives and responds to pivotal events like the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2008 Financial Crisis. They uncover how non-Western countries interpret and react to these turning points, and explore a diverse array of interests, values, and political behaviours often misunderstood in the West. The volume also examines whether initiatives from the Global South can reshape global governance institutions, influence the existing structures, and provide a historical and philosophical context to understand the continuities and changes in global governance.

Ideal for scholars and students, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the rise and influence of the Global South, BRICS, global governance, and the evolving international system.

This book gives a new compelling meaning to the metaphor of ‘Global South’ against the background of the global political challenge to international order, driven not only through the BRICS grouping, but also by the activities of middle powers striving to alter the political status quo.

Expert contributors highlight the interplay between politics, economy, and security, offering insights into how the Global South perceives and responds to pivotal events like the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2008 Financial Crisis. They uncover how non-Western countries interpret and react to these turning points, and explore a diverse array of interests, values, and political behaviours often misunderstood in the West. The volume also examines whether initiatives from the Global South can reshape global governance institutions, influence the existing structures, and provide a historical and philosophical context to understand the continuities and changes in global governance.

Ideal for scholars and students, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in the rise and influence of the Global South, BRICS, global governance, and the evolving international system.