Book Review: "World Ordering: A Social Theory of Cognitive Evolution" by Emanuel Adler, Published by Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2019 (394 pp), ISBN: 9781108325615

Abstract

World Ordering is a recent publication by Emanuel Adler, a distinguished political philosopher. This book is a testament to Adler's extensive academic experience, as seen by his incorporation of a wide range of research, fields of study, and philosophical discussions, drawing from and contributing to them. The writer carefully reviews the pertinent scientific and theoretical work in the field of International Affairs. Additionally, they draw heavily from political and social thought, social theory, epistemology, evolution theory, and complexity theory. These interdisciplinary approaches are employed to elucidate the dynamics of transition and balance within global social structures, as well as within social order, more broadly. The primary focus of this discussion involves a social theory framework. However, the book also provides several scientific scenarios, such as comparisons to the social structure that Europeans experienced after the Second World War, the social structure in cyberspace, and the social structure inside companies, among other instances. Due to its philosophical orientation and extensive engagement with academic practices, resulting in the profusion of specialized notions, the work is intended for scholars.