War, Peace, and International Political Realism: Perspectives from the Review of Politics

Gathering together essays by some of the most influential modern political philosophers and theorists, War, Peace, and International Political Realism reveals the twentieth-century roots of the realist tradition and demonstrates the enduring relevance of realist insights for current international relations scholarship and foreign affairs. These essays, all of which were published in The Review of Politics, the majority during the 1940s and 1950s, reflect four major tenets of the classical realist tradition: an obligation to confront large and difficult questions about international politics, a recognition of the fundamentally tragic nature of relations among humans and states, a rejection of historical optimism, and a belief in practical morality. Keir A. Lieber provides an excellent introduction emphasizing the importance of political realism as defined by the contributors.

Students and scholars of political theory, international relations, and history will welcome having these important essays in one useful volume; they are just as applicable to contemporary foreign policy challenges as they were to the crises of post-World War II international politics.

Author: Keir a. Lieber
Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press
Published: 09/01/2009
Pages: 350
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.14lbs
Size: 8.90h x 6.00w x 1.00d
ISBN: 9780268033842

Review Citation(s):
Reference and Research Bk News 08/01/2010 pg. 164

About the Author
Keir A. Lieber is associate professor in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University where he is a core faculty member of the Center for Security Studies and of the Security Studies Program. He also holds a joint appointment with the department of government.