Morgenthau, Law and Realism - Softcover

Jütersonke, Oliver

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1107407680 ISBN 13: 9781107407688

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2012

Synopsis

Although widely regarded as the 'founding father' of realism in International Relations, this book argues that Hans J. Morgenthau's legal background has largely been neglected in discussions of his place in the 'canon' of IR theory. Morgenthau was a legal scholar of German-Jewish origins who arrived in the United States in 1938. He went on to become a distinguished professor of Political Science and a prominent public intellectual. Rather than locate Morgenthau's intellectual heritage in the German tradition of Realpolitik, this book demonstrates how many of his central ideas and concepts stem from European and American legal debates of the 1920s and 30s. This is an ambitious attempt to recast the debate on Morgenthau and will appeal to IR scholars interested in the history of realism as well as international lawyers engaged in debates regarding the relationship between law and politics, and the history of international law.

About this title

Book Description:

Oliver Jütersonke argues conventional assumptions in international relations about the origins of Morgenthau's realist thought are mistaken. Rather than locate Morgenthau's intellectual heritage in the German tradition of Realpolitik, this book demonstrates how many of his central concepts stem from European and American legal debates of the 1920s and 30s.

Review:

"A thoughtfully conceived, well written and carefully argued re-reading of Morgenthau."
Jack Donnelly, University of Denver

"A revealing study that breaks new ground in the studies of Morgenthau and realism, as well as in the disciplinary history of International Relations in general."
Michael C. Williams, University of Ottawa

"As a work of intellectual history, Morgenthau, Law and Realism successfully demonstrates how Morgenthau's earliest legal scholarship prefigures his later theorizing about law and politics...With great patience, Jütersonke laboriously excavates the underappreciated imprints on Morgenthau's thinking." -Christine M. Lee, University of Bristol, The Review of Politics

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2012
• ISBN 10: 1107407680
• ISBN 13: 9781107407688
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 216