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Morgenthau's theory and practice: a response to Peter Gellman

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 October 2009

Jaap W. Nobel
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Extract

In his lively essay on Hans Morgenthau Peter Gellman points out that the school of realism was essentially ‘an association based upon a common repudiation of unfounded hopes for a new world’. But he cautions that ‘beyond this shared purpose, the diversity of theoretical priorities among “Realists” … limits the utility of realism as a word that can either describe or enlighten’. Certainly, on the nature of power, the ends of politics, the role of morality, the national interest, the meaning of theory itself Morgenthau had his own views. On many of these matters Gellman sets us right. We have here, I believe, a fair account of Morgenthau's views and a profound analysis of his theoretical approach.

Type
Discussion
Information
Review of International Studies , Volume 15 , Issue 3 , July 1989 , pp. 261 - 271
Copyright
Copyright © British International Studies Association 1989

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References

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18. Ibid., p. 26.

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46. Ibid., p. 16.

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48. Ibid., p. 36.

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