This first anthology of women's international thought explores how women transformed the practice of international relations, from the early to mid-twentieth century. Revealing a major distortion in current understandings of the history and theory of international relations, this anthology offers an alternative 'archive' of international thought. By including women as international thinkers it demonstrates their centrality to early international relations discourses in and on the Anglo-American world order and how they were excluded from its history and conceptualization. Encompassing one hundred and four selections by ninety-two different thinkers, including Anna Julia Cooper, Margaret Sanger, Rosa Luxemburg, Judith Shklar, Hannah Arendt, Merze Tate, Susan Strange, Lucy P. Mair and Claudia Jones, it covers the widest possible range of subject matter, genres, ideological and political positions, and professional contexts. Organised into thirteen thematic sections, each with a substantial introductory essay, the anthology provides intellectual, political, biographical context, and original arguments, showing women's significance in international thought.
Industry Reviews
'This majestic volume demands superlatives. It is not just the first anthology of women's international thought, and the largest anthology of international thought ever compiled: it is by far the most critical and original such collection and the one most likely to explode and re-order its field. A milestone achievement.' David Armitage, Harvard University
'This groundbreaking and robust collection powerfully showcases the richness and complexity of women's international thought. It achieves the impressive feat of capturing women's diverse ideas on the most urgent issues of the past - and present. This anthology will transform how we write and think about intellectual history and international relations.' Keisha N. Blain, University of Pittsburgh
'When is a discomforting challenge a gift? When it makes you rethink your assumptions in ways that excite you, invigorate you! This is precisely what Owens' and Reitzler's surprising history of international political thinking does. Having read this remarkable book, I now wonder why I've never realized that Black feminist Anna Julia Cooper was an international theorist or that Simone Weil's writings were so pertinent to today's international debates? Pulling back the curtain on these intellectual politics of exclusion is energizing.' Cynthia Enloe, Clark University
'This extraordinary anthology has been a long time coming. A stellar team has brought us the evidence and confirmation of women's critical voices in the history of international thought. There are names we occasionally come across, and others that have been hidden from view for too long. This volume will change the history of international thought, it must.' Glenda Sluga, HEC European University Institute and University of Sydney
