'For far too long our large-scale, broad-stroke histories have revolved around sedentary and maritime empires, agro-capitalist regimes, and nation states. This powerful book provides a compelling counter narrative by re-examining a long sweep of Eurasian history from steppe worlds outward rather than sedentary domains outward. The results are revelatory. Even today, if looked closely, we can see traces of the two-millennia-old steppe tradition behind the facade of the modern states system.' Pekka Hamalainen, author of The Comanche Empire 'Neumann and Wigen have produced a veritable masterpiece. Their book opens up exciting new vistas for the comparative study of international systems, filling a critical lacuna in our understanding of Eurasia's political development. And it also provides timely insight into the enduring imprint of the steppe state-building tradition, and the deep historical roots of authoritarianism in Turkey and the post-Soviet space. The Steppe Tradition in International Relations is destined to be a classic, and should be required reading for all serious students of comparative state formation and historical international relations.' Andrew Phillips, University of Queensland