1st Edition

Empires of the Mind International Society and the Search for a New Order

By James Mayall Copyright 2026
126 Pages
by Routledge

126 Pages
by Routledge

This book examines three major attempts since World War I to reform international order and challenge empire, hierarchy, and real politik. It covers the League of Nations' promotion of democracy and self-determination, the United Nations' addition of economic governance, and post-1991 democratization efforts. The work investigates why these reforms failed and explores the persistent hold of... Read more

Acknowledgements 
1. Introduction: Empires of the Mind 
2. Empire, Modernity and the International Order 
3. Empire in the Age of Ideology 
4. Empire in the Cold War 
5. Empire in the Age of Corporate Capitalism 
6. Conclusion: The Uncertain Future of International Society 
Index 

Biography

James Mayall worked at the Board of Trade in London before joining the International Relations Department at the London School of Economics and Political Science. He taught there until 1998 when he was elected as the first Sir Patrick Sheehy Professor of International Relations and fellow of Sidney Sussex College. He has written widely on the history and nature of international society, the impact of nationalism on international conflict, the Commonwealth and North-South relations.