Neomedievalism in International Relations
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- ISBN 9781041218715
- Dimensions: 156 x 234mm
- Publication Date: 13 Jul 2026
- Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
- Publication City/Country: GB
- Product Form: Hardback
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In Neomedievalism in International Relations: Scattering the International, Elucidating the Empire, we explore the evolution of Neomedievalism and its transformative role in rethinking world politics. Drawing on Hedley Bull’s concept of a post-state-centric world, the book examines how Neomedievalism, with its metaphorical reference to the Middle Ages, offers a fresh lens through which to understand the fragmentation of state authority, the rise of non-state actors, and the impacts of globalisation and technology.
The book investigates Neomedievalism in International Relations (IR) theory, arguing that it illuminates the process of “scattering the international”—the breakdown of state-centric world politics and the decentralisation of political power. It further shows how Neomedievalism aids in “elucidating the empire,” offering insights into the dynamics of political development, past and present empires, and the growing influence of transnational forces.
By evaluating Neomedievalism as an alternative to state-centric models of world order, the book contributes to the much-needed evolution of global political theory, proposing a path towards a more nuanced understanding of the complexities of contemporary world politics. It will appeal to scholars and students of IR and political theory, particularly those interested in non-state actors, polity formation, informal power, and the evolving structure of world politics.
Aleksandra Spalińska is a Research Associate at the School of Global Studies, University of Sussex, and a Visiting Fellow at the Global Security Programme, Pembroke College, University of Oxford, UK. Her professional experience includes research positions at the Polish Academy of Sciences, University of Warsaw, and European University Institute in Florence, Italy. Aleksandra’s research interests encompass the systemic transformation of world politics, theories of world order in transition (including neomedievalism and heterarchy), quasi-state entities, the role of history in International Relations, and historical and creative methods in International Relations and security studies. Her previous books include: The Idea of the New Middle Ages in the Processes of European (Dis)integration, 2017 (in Polish), and Politics and Power Between the Archetype of the Polis and the Universe of New Medievalism, 2019 (in Polish).
