Includes bibliographical references (pages 233-249) and index.
CONTENTS NOTE
Text of Note
Introduction : Morgenthau's uneasy realism -- Radical roots of realism -- Morality, power, and tragedy -- Defending the national interest -- Politics among nations and beyond -- Utopian realism and the bomb -- Vietnam and the crisis of American democracy -- Conclusion : Morgenthau as classical realist?
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SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
The ideas of Hans Morgenthau dominated the study of international politics in the United States for many decades. He was the leading representative of Realist international relations theory in the last century and his work remains hugely influential in the field. In this book, the author provides a comprehensive and illuminating introduction to Morgenthau's ideas, and assesses their significance for political theory and international politics. The author shows Morgenthau to be an uneasy Realist, uncomfortable with conventional notions of Realism and sometimes unsure whether his reflections should be grouped under its rubric. He was a powerful critic of the existing state system and defended the idea of a world state. By highlighting Morgenthau's engagement with the leading lights of European political and legal theory, the author argues that he developed a morally demanding political ethics and an astute diagnosis of the unprecedented perils posed by nuclear weaponry. Believing that the irrationalities of US foreign policy were rooted partly in domestic factors, he sympathized with demands for radical political and social change. The author illustrates that Morgenthau's thinking has been widely misunderstood by both disciples and critics and that it offers many challenges to contemporary Realists who discount his normative aspirations. With the advent of the cosmopolitan goal of international reform, Morgenthau's work serves up an unsettling mix of sympathy and hard-headed skepticism which remains crucially important in the development of the field. Lucidly and persuasively written, this book will be a valuable resource for students and scholars seeking to understand the continued importance of Morgenthau's thinking.