In this ambitious and masterful polemic ten Brink contributes to an understanding of the modern state-system, its conflicts and transformation

Tobias ten Brink Ph.D. (2007), is a senior researcher at Goethe University in Frankfurt. In addition to several monographs, such as Chinas Kapitalismus. Entstehung, Verlauf, Paradoxien (Campus, 2013), he has published numerous articles on comparative capitalisms, international relations and China.

Acknowledgements
Preface by Bob Jessop
Introduction
Organisation of the book

PART ONE: PERIODS OF THEORISING CONFLICT IN THE MODERN STATE SYSTEM
I. Critical-liberal, Marxist and neo-Weberian approaches
II. Power-politics and (Neo-)Realism within the field of International Relations
III. Deficits and Desiderata for future research
1. Preliminary summary

PART TWO: A GPE FRAMEWORK FOR EXPLAINING GEOPOLITICS
I. Foundations for analysing capitalism
1. Analyses of the capitalist mode of production
2. Structural features of capitalism
II. Capitalism as a globally fragmented system across space and time
1. Combined and uneven development, relations of space and time, and the 'international'
2. The dynamic of the global economic process of accumulation
3. The dynamic of the international state system
4. Considerations on various forms of competition
III. Historical phases of the world order and the periodisation of socio-economic and geopolitical power relations
1. Structural features, phases and constellations
2. Hegemonic and non-hegemonic phases of world order
3. Phases of socio-economic development
4. Phases of statehood

PART THREE: MARKET-LIBERAL STATISM: CONTEMPORARY GEOPOLITICAL PHENOMENA
I. The balance between soft and hard geopolitics
1. 'Democratic wars'
2. Excursus: International law within fragmented capitalism
II. Geopolitical and economic competitive relations
1. The aspirations and realities of US empire
2. The EU and the US: A conflict-laden partnership
3. China and the US: A new cold war?

Summary
Bibliography
Index