1. A wanderer between two worlds: An attempt at an intellectual biography PART I Defining the approach 2. The Humean perspective on international relations 3. On the notion of "interest" in international relations 4. Sovereignty, property and propriety: The generative grammar of modernity PART II Writings on international law 5. Thrasymmachos revisited: On the relevance of norms and the study of law for international relations 6. The limits of contract 7. Has the "rule of law" become "rule of lawyers"? An inquiry into the use and abuse of an ancient topos in contemporary debates PART III Writings on epistemology 8. Constructing a new orthodoxy? Wendt's "social theory of international politics" and the constructivist challenge 9. History, action and identity: Revisiting the "second" great debate and assessing its importance for social theory 10. Ten points to ponder about pragmatism: Some critical reflections on knowledge generation in the social sciences PART IV Drawing boundaries: The inter/external and the private/public nexus 11. Of systems, boundaries and territoriality: An inquiry into the formation of the state system 12. The politics of place and origin: An enquiry into the changing boundaries of representation, citizenship and legitimacy 13. Global governance and the emergence of "world society"

The Puzzles of Politics brings together for the first time a collection of his key essays to explain his approach to international relations and how his thinking has developed over the last 30 years. It addresses topical themes and issues central to his work including sovereignty, law, epistemology, boundaries, global governance and world society. The book includes a framing introduction written for this volume in which Kratochwil provides an intellectual biography providing context as well as an introduction to his work. This important volume will be of very strong interest to students and scholars of international relation, political theory and law.