The Aberystwyth Papers: International Politics, 1919–1969, by Brian Porter

PrefaceIn 1919 the world's first Chair in International Politics was establishednat the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth. This was a notablenevent in the history of the College, but even more so in the history ofnthe subject. International Politics, or International Relations, is now,nthroughout the world, a fully developed branch of university learning,nwith its own body of literature and its own corps of specialist teachers.nAnd in this development Aberystwyth has played a distinctive part,nlargely through the work of some of the neminent scholars who havenoccupied its Woodrow Wilson Chair.In 1969, therefore, it was thought fitting to commemorate thenfiftieth anniversary of the founding, by David Davies and his sisters,nof the Chair and Department. The commemoration took two forms:nthe commissioning of a series of Papers by distinguished scholars in thenfield, and a conference to which were invited leading specialists in thenstudy and teaching of the subject.The conference was held from 13 to 17 December 1969 at GregynognHall, Montgomeryshire, once the home of the Misses Gwendoline andnMargaret Davies, co-founders of the Chair. The Chancellor of thenUniversity of Wales, H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, expressednhis interest in the meeting and sent his best wishes for its success.The object of the Gregynog Conference was to hear and discussnpreliminary drafts of some of the Papers' to be contributed to thencommemorative volume. In the event, Dr. William Olson, ProfessornSeton-Watson, Professor Goodwin, Professor Morgenthau, Sir HerbertnButterfield, Professor Manning, and Professor Hinsley, read drafts ofntheir Papers. The audience included other distinguished academics fromnBritish and overseas universities, together with the President andnPrincipal of the University College of Wales, and the Wilson Professor,nstaff, and senior students from the Department o f International Politics.nIt was particularly gratifying to be able to bring together in suchnagreeable surroundings three great scholars whose pioneering work hadndone so much to shape the subject: E. H. Carr, C. A. W. Manning,nand Hans J. Morgenthau.Most of the Papers were completed during the course of 1970. Thenbook they now form was designed to illuminate different aspects ofnboth the subject and the subject-matter of International Politics over thenprevious half-century. In consequence, first the titles of the Papersnwere drawn up, and then scholars were approached who were especiallynwell fitted to write upon them. Within the unifying theme of the volumenexpressed in the sub-title, and the necessary limits placed upon length,ncontributors were free to treat their subjects exactly as they wished. n