Conceptualizing the West in International Relations : From Spengler to Said

West is a concept widely used in international relations, but we rarely reflect on what we mean by the term. Conceptions of and what the West is vary widely. This book examines conceptions of the West drawn from writers from diverse historical and intellectual contexts, revealing both interesting parallels and points of divergence. It also reflects on implications of these different perceptions of how we understand the role of the West, and its interactions with other civilizational identities.

Jacinta O'Hagan is Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Queensland.