This article examines the idea of equality in the theory of international society. Contrary to the widespread contemporary notion of equality as a corollary principle to sovereignty, the central argument of the article is that equality and sovereignty can and ought to be disconnected, and that the concept of equality, when uncoupled from sovereignty, is a better point of departure when theorising international society than is, for example, non-intervention or sovereignty. An alternative approach to deal with equality of states and other entities within international society is sketched out.

This essay examines the complex relationship between international law and the balance of power which Hedley Bull claims is paradoxical. Bull argues that the balance of power is an 'essential condition' of international law and that the actions required to preserve the balance 'often involve' violation of international law. It is shown that what seems to be a paradox is not a paradox but essentially a normative problem related to the difficulties in regulating power within international society, and that the perceived paradox does more to obscure than to clarify the fundamental normative problem to be dealt with.

Global uppvärmning, terrorism, världsfattigdom är tre exempel på företeelser som i vår tid ställer stora krav på ledarskap för att kunna lösas. Ledarskap utöver det vanliga, statsmannaskap.  Syftet med denna bok är att öka förståelsen av statsmannaskap som  förmågan att i utsatta situationer se problem och lösningar i ett längre perspektiv, att kunna höja blicken och bortse från kortsiktighet och  egenintresse.  Statsmannaskapets begrepp och praktik diskuteras av historiker och statsvetare från Sverige, Norge och Danmark utifrån historiska och nutida exempel. Fokus ligger på analys av framträdande personers agerande och frågor som: Vilka egenskaper har de som betraktas som  statsmän? Under vilka omständigheter kan dessa egenskaper komma  till sin rätt?    Särskild uppmärksamhet ägnas den svensk-norska unionsupplösningen  1905: Var den fredliga processen resultat av statsmannalikt agerande? Exempel på andra möjliga statsmannaskap som diskuteras är Tjeckoslovakiens delning 1992–93, danska regionreformer under 2000-talets första år, polarforskaren som statsman och administratören som statsman.

Does international terrorism constitute such a threat that states will accept an international monopoly of violence or hegemony? This essay analyses the world political situation from the perspective of Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan. According to Hobbes, there are several reasons why an international monopoly of violence will not follow from similar processes as those that shape the political authority of the state. Accordingly, it is shown in this essay, that neither hegemony nor an international monopoly of violence will necessarily follow from the present situation, regardless of US domination. The extended interpretation of the right of self-defence seems to have led to an increased acceptance among states of unilateral political action. Judging from Hobbes, however, the right of self-defence cannot alone guarantee international stability.

Thirty-three papers examine various aspects of integration in the North European area, from the Barents region in the north to the Baltic Sea in the south. Papers discuss economic integration; spatial planning and the environment; transborder regional cooperation; and political integration, territorial governance, and foreign and security policy. Also includes statistics on the current status and development of countries in Northern Europe and the Baltic. Hedegaard is with the Nordic Center for Spatial Development in Copenhagen. Lindstrom is in the Department of Statistics and Economics Research in Aland, Aland Islands. Index.