James Gow is Professor of International Peace and Security at King's College, London.

• Preface. Abbreviations.Chapter 1 Introduction.The Question of Pre-emption: Real Need or Dangerous Fantasy?.Defining the West: Delineating the West.Defining the West: Defending the West.The Book.Chapter 2 Theory.Realism and the Rest.Constructivist Realism.Chapter 3 Order.The Post-Cold War Sovereignty Revolution.Stratified Stability: From Disorder to Order.Layering Stability: the Evolution of the Sovereign State System.Stratifying Stability: Borders and Beyond.Chapter 4 Threats.Physical Threats.Stability Threats.Chapter 5 Alliance.The Evolutionary Alliance.The Alliance Transformed.The European Dimension: Invention, Illusion and the Indispensable.The Euroatlantic Order.US Leadership, European Capability and Responsible Action.Chapter 6 Partnership.Productive Partnership and Constructive Engagement.Partnership, Engagement and Stability.Strategic Flexibility:Operational and Political.Chapter 7 Pre-Emption.Iraq 2003: the Basis for Action and the Shadow of Pre-Emption.New Bearings in Self-Defence for the Twenty-First Century: the Need for Pre-Emption.Intelligence, Legitimacy and the Boundaries of the Self-Defence Revolution.Conclusion.Notes.Bibliography.Index

'If, as I believe, there is no more important task in international relations in the 21st century than re-joining the imperatives of strategy with the legitimating structures of law, then Defending the West is a very important work indeed. Rich and accessible, it charts the way forward.' -- Philip Bobbitt, A.W. Walker Centennial Chair in Law 'A provocative case for extending the concept of self-defence in international relations to include pre-emptive armed action. Based on a reasoned argument about the changed global security situation, it deserves attention even those who are sceptical of Western military action.' -- Martin Shaw, University of Sussex