Recent years have seen a range of theoretical challenges to traditional notions of state sovereignty and a burgeoning debate about the power of the state in the face of globalization and new forms of governance.

The Debate: Context, History and Concepts.- Economic Globalization and State Transformation.- Economic Globalization and the Third World.- Political Changes: From National Government to Multilevel Governance?.- Nationhood and Identity: Community Beyond the State?.- The Transformation of Sovereignty?.- The Transformation of War?.- The Modernizing States: Winners or Losers?.- Transformation to What? And Why?: Sovereign Statehood in a New Millennium.- Theoretical Perspectives and New Debates.

'A wonderfully insightful, balanced and constructive book which will also be an essential student text. Sorensen pioneers in finding a middle ground between those who argue that states are 'losing' or 'winning' by shifting the focus to multilevel governance and particular issue-areas.' - Yale H. Ferguson, Rutgers University 'An important and impressive book, which brings much-needed fresh perspective to a long-standing debate as to the nature of the state in various parts of the world. The debate should now subside in the face of Georg Sorensen's nuanced analysis of how the state has changed in the past and how it continues to undergo transformation even though its future trajectory is far from clear.' - James N. Rosenau, The George Washington University 'Sorensen has a remarkable ability to clarify complex contemporary issues. His exploration of the impact of economic globalization upon states in both the developed and developing worlds will be illuminating to novices and experts alike.' - Richard Sandbrook, University of Toronto 'This well-written book, which unlike many in the field pays full attention to the world beyond as well as within the OECD, is a must for everyone interested in current changes in political order.' - Michael Zurn, Universitat Bremen

'A wonderfully insightful, balanced and constructive book which will also be an essential student text. Sorensen pioneers in finding a middle ground between those who argue that states are 'losing' or 'winning' by shifting the focus to multilevel governance and particular issue-areas.' - Yale H. Ferguson, Rutgers University 'An important and impressive book, which brings much-needed fresh perspective to a long-standing debate as to the nature of the state in various parts of the world. The debate should now subside in the face of Georg Sorensen's nuanced analysis of how the state has changed in the past and how it continues to undergo transformation even though its future trajectory is far from clear.' - James N. Rosenau, The George Washington University 'Sorensen has a remarkable ability to clarify complex contemporary issues. His exploration of the impact of economic globalization upon states in both the developed and developing worlds will be illuminating to novices and experts alike.' - Richard Sandbrook, University of Toronto 'This well-written book, which unlike many in the field pays full attention to the world beyond as well as within the OECD, is a must for everyone interested in current changes in political order.' - Michael Zurn, Universitat Bremen

Clearly and accessibly written introduction to the major debates about the nature of the modern state and whether and how it has changed in the face of globalization and other challengesUnique in systematically covering a whole range of states, including 'third world' as well as OECDPowerful case by a highly regarded academic for argument that the capacities and powers of the state have not weakened though they have substantially changed