Political Thought and International Relations: Variations on a Realist ThemeDuncan Bell Political realism dominated the field of International Relations during the Cold War. Since then, however, its fortunes have been mixed: pushed onto the backfoot during 1990s, it has in recent years retuned to the centre of scholarly debate. Despite its prominence in International Relations, however, realism plays only a marginal role in contemporary international political theory. It is often associated with a form of crude realpolitik that ignores the ethical dimensions of political life. The contributors to this book explore alternative understandings of realism, seeing it as a diverse and complex mode of political and ethical theorising rather than simply a "value-neutral" social scientific theory or the unreflective defence of the national interest. A number of the chapters offer critical interpretations of key figures in the canon of twentieth century realism, including Hans Morgenthau, E. H. Carr, and Reinhold Niebuhr. Others seek to widen the lens through which realism is usually viewed, exploring the writings of Martin Heidegger, Hannah Arendt, and Leo Strauss. Finally, a number of the contributors engage with general issues in international political theory, including the meaning and value of pessimism, the relationship between power and ethics, the purpose of normative political theory, and what might constitute political "reality." Straddling International Relations and political theory, this book makes a significant contribution to both fields. |
Contents
| 1 | |
Ethics Persuasion and Power | 26 |
3 A Theoretical Missed Opportunity? Hans J Morgenthau as Critical Realist | 41 |
4 Hans J Morgenthau and the Legacy of Max Weber | 63 |
Conflicting Conceptions of Ethics in Realism | 83 |
6 The Ethic of Reality in Hannah Arendt | 105 |
7 Towards a More Reflective Political Realism | 122 |
Other editions - View all
Political Thought and International Relations: Variations on a Realist Theme Duncan Bell Limited preview - 2009 |
Political Thought and International Relations: Variations on a Realist Theme Duncan Bell Limited preview - 2010 |
Political Thought and International Relations: Variations on a Realist Theme Duncan Bell No preview available - 2008 |
Common terms and phrases
action affairs American argued argument Cambridge University Press Carl Schmitt Chicago Press claim classical realism conception contemporary context critical critical realism critique democracy democratic discussion E. H. Carr emotivism essay ethics evil fact foreign policy Geuss global Habermas Hannah Arendt Hans Morgenthau Heidegger Heidegger's historical Hobbes human nature ideal theory ideas intellectual international law international politics International Relations international society justice Kenneth Waltz Lebow Leo Strauss liberal Machiavelli Max Weber means metaphysics modern moral neoconservative Neoptolemus Niebuhr and Morgenthau Nietzsche particular peithō pessimism pessimistic Philoctetes poiēses political philosophy Political Realism political theory political thought Politics Among Nations post-war Power Politics praxis principles problem question Rawls Realist Tradition reality reason Reinhold Niebuhr Richard Ned Lebow Rousseau scepticism Scheuerman sense social theoretical theōria theorists theory of international thinking Thucydides transcendent understanding understood University of Chicago utopian values violence Weber Williams writings York