?This is an erudite well-written work.? Adam M. Garfinkle, Orbis

?This book combines a discussion of theoretical perspectives on the nature of international relations with an examination of international history since 1815. Neither of these ventures entails entering new and unexplored territory, but even the most experienced students of the modern international system will find in Clark?s work some original perceptions and some interpretations that deviate sufficiently from conventional wisdom to induce reconsideration.? Inis L. Claude Jr, Political Science Quarterly

The hierarchy of states presents Ian Clark?s Reform and resistance in the international order, a well-established text on international relations first published in 1980, in a completely revised form. Combining a detailed examination of theory with a full account of historical developments, Dr Clark analyses the nature of international order - the hierarchical state system - and its potential for reform. The theory of international order is explored tracing two traditions of thought epitomised in the writings of Kant and Rousseau, whilst in a historical survey Dr Clark covers the main attempts to implement international order since 1815 and includes such aspects as concert diplomacy, alliance systems, international organisations as well as such informal understandings as nuclear deterrence, crisis management and spheres of influence. This revised edition contains two new chapters - one on international/world order issues and the other on ?macro? changes between 1815 and 1990. Dr Clark has updated his discussion on the course of superpower relations and most of the material on the post-1945 period is introduced in this edition for the first time.

The hierarchy of states presents Ian Clark's Reform and resistance in the international order, a well-established text on international relations first published in 1980, in a completely revised form. Combining a detailed examination of theory with a full account of historical developments, Dr Clark analyses the nature of international order - the hierarchical state system - and its potential for reform. The theory of international order is explored tracing two traditions of thought epitomised in the writings of Kant and Rousseau, whilst in a historical survey Dr Clark covers the main attempts to implement international order since 1815 and includes such aspects as concert diplomacy, alliance systems, international organisations as well as such informal understandings as nuclear deterrence, crisis management and spheres of influence. This revised edition contains two new chapters - one on international/world order issues and the other on 'macro' changes between 1815 and 1990. Dr Clark has updated his discussion on the course of superpower relations and most of the material on the post-1945 period is introduced in this edition for the first time.

1998-02-28 A thought provoking work on international relations theory

Clark's "Hierarchy" is a concise, well written book that covers issues of Kantian optimism, pessimism, and balance of power when analyzing interntaional reltaions, starting from the Congree of Vienna in 1815. Whether the author's structural breakdown of the last 200 years of European IR is perfectly accurate or not should not be the focus. Instead, the book is important because of the strength of the argument laid forth by Clark. A highly technical work, it is not easy reading, yet any person well grounded in IR theory will benefit from reading this book.