Morgenthau H. (1948) Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for
Power and Peace. New York: Alfred A.Knopf. Chap 1: Principles of
realism
- Is realism an unchanging set of ideas or is it moulded by the times realist live in?
- How does key realist work of the early 20th century show the impact of the times?
6 principles of political realism
1) Political realism is focused on objective laws that are founded upon human nature.
Due to the objectivity realism believes in, it must acknowledge the potential of
“developing a rational theory that reflects, however imperfectly and one-sidedly,
these objective laws.” (Morgethau,1948:4)
This emphasis on human nature is rooted in their philosophies of China India and
Greece. A new or unheard-of theory that is more likely to be met with doubt
whereas older theories are not questioned to be out of date. Political theories need
to be tested empirically to remain sound. “To dismiss such a theory because it had its
flowering in centuries past is the present not a rational argument but a modernistic
prejudice that takes for granted the superiority of the present over the past”
(Morgenthau,1984:4)
All about experience and empirically testing theories in the modern day.
2) “The concept of interest defined in terms of power” (Morgenthau,1984:5) this shows
that this concept enables facts to be outlined between political and non-political.
“Statesmen’s think and act in terms of interest defined as power, and the evidence
of history bears that assumption out” (Morgenthau,1984:5)
“A realist theory of international politics, then will guard against two popular
fallacies: the concern with motives and the concern with ideological preferences”
(Morgenthau,1984:5)
“Good motives give assurance against deliberately bad policies; they do not guarantee the
more goodness and political success of the policies they inspire” (Morgenthau,1984:6)
“The difference between international politics as it actually is and the rational derived from
it is like the difference between a photograph and a painted portrait. The photograph shows
everything that can be seen by the naked eye; the painted portrait does not show
everything that can be seen by the naked eye, but it shows, or at least seeks to show, one
thing that the naked eye cannot see: the human essence of the person portrayed.”
(Morgenthau,1984:7)
This principle is very similar to Thomas Hobbes and his analysis that it is a part of human
nature to seek, obtain and use power if it is in their ability to do so. It is this cycle which he
Power and Peace. New York: Alfred A.Knopf. Chap 1: Principles of
realism
- Is realism an unchanging set of ideas or is it moulded by the times realist live in?
- How does key realist work of the early 20th century show the impact of the times?
6 principles of political realism
1) Political realism is focused on objective laws that are founded upon human nature.
Due to the objectivity realism believes in, it must acknowledge the potential of
“developing a rational theory that reflects, however imperfectly and one-sidedly,
these objective laws.” (Morgethau,1948:4)
This emphasis on human nature is rooted in their philosophies of China India and
Greece. A new or unheard-of theory that is more likely to be met with doubt
whereas older theories are not questioned to be out of date. Political theories need
to be tested empirically to remain sound. “To dismiss such a theory because it had its
flowering in centuries past is the present not a rational argument but a modernistic
prejudice that takes for granted the superiority of the present over the past”
(Morgenthau,1984:4)
All about experience and empirically testing theories in the modern day.
2) “The concept of interest defined in terms of power” (Morgenthau,1984:5) this shows
that this concept enables facts to be outlined between political and non-political.
“Statesmen’s think and act in terms of interest defined as power, and the evidence
of history bears that assumption out” (Morgenthau,1984:5)
“A realist theory of international politics, then will guard against two popular
fallacies: the concern with motives and the concern with ideological preferences”
(Morgenthau,1984:5)
“Good motives give assurance against deliberately bad policies; they do not guarantee the
more goodness and political success of the policies they inspire” (Morgenthau,1984:6)
“The difference between international politics as it actually is and the rational derived from
it is like the difference between a photograph and a painted portrait. The photograph shows
everything that can be seen by the naked eye; the painted portrait does not show
everything that can be seen by the naked eye, but it shows, or at least seeks to show, one
thing that the naked eye cannot see: the human essence of the person portrayed.”
(Morgenthau,1984:7)
This principle is very similar to Thomas Hobbes and his analysis that it is a part of human
nature to seek, obtain and use power if it is in their ability to do so. It is this cycle which he
