Politics Among Nations Book by Hans Morgenthau and Kenneth W. Thompson: Summary

Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace is a political science book by Hans Morgenthau, first published in 1948.

It is supposed a masterpiece text in the area of international relations and has been translated into over 20 languages.

The book is an introduction to the realist theory of international politics.

Morgenthau contends that the fundamental objective of all political commodities, whether they be individuals, groups, or nations, is to obtain power. In the international domain, where there is no central authority to implement law or order, power is the only norm by which nations can accomplish their objectives.

Morgenthau identifies six tenets of political realism:

The national interest: The ultimate goal of all political action is to facilitate the national interest. The national interest is characterized as the power to maintain the nation's independence and security.
The balance of power: The international system is anarchic, significant that there is no central authority to implement the order. As a result, nations are frequently stumbling for power to defend themselves from attack. The balance of power is the tenet that countries should form coalitions to counter the power of other nations.
The national character: The national interest is shaped by the nation's history, culture, and political values. This means that various nations will have various concepts of their national interest.
Reason and morality: Political realism does not reject the presence of reason and morality in international politics. However, Morgenthau contends that reason and morality are frequently subordinate to the pursuit of power.
The impact of domestic politics: Domestic politics can have an important impact on a nation's foreign policy. For example, a nation with a powerful democratic tradition may be more plausible to pursue peaceful foreign policies than a country with a strong authoritarian tradition.
The role of international law: International law is not a binding force in the international system. Nevertheless, it can play a role in shaping the conduct of nations by delivering a framework for alliance and by setting boundaries on the use of force.

Politics Among Nations is a complex and refined work of political theory.

It has been honored for its understanding of the nature of international politics and its bearing on the real world. However, it has also been criticized for its suspicious view of human nature and its lack of awareness of the role of morality in international affairs.

Despite its analysts, Politics Among Nations stays an important work in the domain of international relations. It is a must-read for anyone who likes to understand the realist viewpoint on international politics.

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