Political Theory and International Relations

By Charles R. Beitz

Book Overview

In this revised edition of his 1979 classic Political Theory and International Relations , Charles Beitz rejects two highly influential conceptions of international theory as empirically inaccurate and theoretically misleading. In one, international relations is a Hobbesian state of nature in which moral judgments are entirely inappropriate, and in the other, states are analogous to persons in domestic society in having rights of autonomy that insulate them from external moral assessment and political interference. Beitz postulates that a theory of international politics should include a revised principle of state autonomy based on the justice of a state's domestic institutions, and a principle of international distributive justice to establish a fair division of resources and wealth among persons situated in diverse national societies.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691009155
• ISBN13: 9780691009155
• Release Date: July 1999
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Classic reference

The content is not easy to read, but it provides the comprehensive assessment on different views towards international relations.

Great!!!!!!

Actually Beitz isn't a communitarian (Walzer is); he's a cosmopolitan. He argues against communitarians (he calls them "morality of states" theorists). But anyway I agree with the first reviewer--this book is great!! Beitz presents an airtight argument, adressing counter arguments on all levels. Although I don't entirely agree with Beitz, his argument is compelling--read this book with Walzer to contrast the perspectives.

a real communitarian!

I hate Realism theory sometimes for the world seems so vulnerable to the current status. Beitz stands up to talk about what the world really should be and most importantly, he talks about the moral sense of "border and sovereign". If his opinions hold true, Nathan Hale's "i only regret that I have but one life for my country" should be revised for "for the world". I like his argument on the communitarain views. His critism on Realism is also fascinating.