Modern political history and international politics -- Evaluating arguments about international politics -- Christopher Columbus and international relations -- International politics from a structural perspective -- International politics from group and decision-making perspectives -- Domestic politics and international interactions : the central units of analysis -- What is power? -- Limits to power -- Preferences in international politics -- Perceptions in international affairs -- Perceptions, deterrence, and terrorism -- Domestic institutions and national performance -- The international political economy of trade -- International organizations and international law -- Alliances -- The causes of war : structural accounts -- Strategic theories of war -- A predictive model of international affair.