PREFACETHIS book is intended not for the specialist but for those who wish to have a plain statement of the international situation and the chief problems which arise in international politics. It is an introduction to the subject and therefore contains references to facts which will be quite familiar to many : but even those who know something of the subject may perhaps find it useful to review familiar facts in a new analysis. There are two kinds of introductory study ; one deals with very general statements covering the whole field, the other gives only typical examples and does not attempt to cover the whole field. The latter is the method adopted here. It has seemed better, for instance, to give a few detailed descriptions rather than to attempt a complete general statement as to undeveloped territories or foreign investment. The examples, however, are intended to be sufficiently various to give a fair idea of the complexity of international politics.Every chapter contains twoTable of Contents CONTENTS PART I; DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTACT OF PEOPLES IN GOVERNMENT, TRADE AND GENERAL CULTURE; PAGE; Chapter I-International Politics and the; Past i; The meaning of international politics Development of the present situation since the Middle Ages; Chapter II-Sovereign States14; The Great Powers Other groupings of the states The influence of wealth and power in the relation of states : advantages of the Great State; Chapter III-Differences of Culture 34; Nationality Religion; Social diversity: the migration of workers Labour and the governing classes; Chapter IV-Undeveloped Countries 54; Subordination of minor states and parts of states by industrialised countries : exploitation of territories inhabited by " native " races; Chapter V-International Trade 78; (à) Governmental action Currencies: tariffs, etc; (á) Non-governmental activities Foreign investment: banks : international companies : s