The Realist Case for Global Reform

Does a hard-headed Realist approach to international politics necessarily involve skepticism towards progressive foreign policy initiatives and global reform? Should proponents of Realism always be seen as morally complacent and politically combative? In this major reconsideration of the main figures of international political theory, Bill Scheuerman challenges conventional wisdom to reveal a neglected tradition of Progressive Realism with much to contribute to contemporary debates about international policy-making and world government. Far from seeing international reform as well-meaning but potentially irresponsible , Progressive Realists like E. H. Carr, John Herz, Hans J. Morgenthau, and Reinhold Niebuhr developed forward-looking ideas which offer an indispensable corrective to many presently influential views about global politics. Progressive Realism, Scheuerman argues, offers a compelling and provocative vision of radical global change which -- when properly interpreted, can help buttress current efforts to address the most pressing international issues. After recovering key subterranean strands in mid-twentieth century Realism, Scheuerman underscores their relevance to contemporary international theory. Criticizing more recent Realists for abandoning their tradition's best insights, he also demonstrates that reform-minded international theories --including versions of Cosmopolitanism, Constructivism, the English School, Liberalism, and Republicanism - could all benefit from taking Progressive Realism seriously. A major contribution both to the history of international relations and contemporary debates in international theory, The Realist Case for Global Reform concludes by considering how Progressive Realism informs the foreign policies of US President Barack Obama.

Does a hard-headed Realist approach to international politicsnecessarily involve skepticism towards progressive foreign policyinitiatives and global reform? Should proponents of Realism alwaysbe seen as morally complacent and politically combative? In thismajor reconsideration of the main figures of internationalpolitical theory, Bill Scheuerman challenges conventional wisdom toreveal a neglected tradition of Progressive Realism with much tocontribute to contemporary debates about internationalpolicy-making and world government.Far from seeing international reform as well-meaning butpotentially irresponsible , Progressive Realists like E. H. CarrJohn Herz, Hans J. Morgenthau, and Reinhold Niebuhr developedforward-looking ideas which offer an indispensable corrective tomany presently influential views about global politics. ProgressiveRealism, Scheuerman argues, offers a compelling and provocativevision of radical global change which -- when properly interpretedcan help buttress current efforts to address the most pressinginternational issues.After recovering key subterranean strands in mid-twentiethcentury Realism, Scheuerman underscores their relevance tocontemporary international theory. Criticizing more recent Realistsfor abandoning their tradition's best insights, he alsodemonstrates that reform-minded international theories --includingversions of Cosmopolitanism, Constructivism, the English SchoolLiberalism, and Republicanism - could all benefit from takingProgressive Realism seriously.A major contribution both to the history of internationalrelations and contemporary debates in international theory, TheRealist Case for Global Reform concludes by considering howProgressive Realism informs the foreign policies of US PresidentBarack Obama.

Preface viAcknowledgments xIntroduction: Meet the Progressive Realists 11 Why (Almost) Everything You Learned About Realism is Wrong152 Realists Against the Nation State 393 Realist Global Reformism 674 What Cosmopolitans Can Learn from Progressive Realism 985 What Other Global Reformers Can Learn from Progressive Realism1266 Who's Afraid of the World State? 149Conclusion: A Niebuhrian President? 169Notes 174References 191Index 209