Cannons and Canons : Clingendael Views of Global and Regional Politics

In Clingendael Newsletter no. 15, we announced the publication of Cannons and Canons ? Clingendael Views of Global and Regional Politics, edited by Clingendael?s Director, Prof. Alfred van Staden, Prof. Jan Rood, Director of Studies, and Hans Labohm (MA), Special Advisor to the Clingendael Board. This publication marks the 20th anniversary of the Clingendael Institute. It presents an overview of the field of international relations, through a series of chapters written by members of Clingendael?s staff, with an introduction by Mr Hans van den Broek, Chairman of the Board. As Mr van den Broek explains, the title Cannons and Canons refers to the dual nature of contemporary international relations. On the one hand, when the vital interests of states are at stake, world politics has kept its anarchical nature to a high degree, with nations trying to survive at the cost of other nations and military power serving as the last resort in the settlement of international disputes.

On the other hand, international anarchy is not the order of the day. International rules and institutions do matter.

This book is intended as a grand ?display card? of the various areas of expertise Clingendael has developed in recent years. It is very much a collective effort, yet clearly shows that there is no one single ?Clingendael? opinion: each article sets out the personal views of its author.