The Realist Tradition and Contemporary International Relations

The tradition in international relations theory known as realism has often been associated with the Cold War. The contributors to this surprising volume argue, however, that realism remains a profound and relevant perspective on contemporary international politics. They point out that classical realism is based on concepts that were elucidated long before the Cold War began and are not confined by its boundaries. Further, they believe that insights of the realist tradition can provide valuable guidance in our contemporary world. With W. David Clinton's clear-eyed supervision, ten scholars of foreign policy reexamine the work of thinkers, spanning twenty-five centuries, who have contributed to the development of realism across the ages. In their essays, the authors consider two key questions: What makes these thinkers "realists"? And how is their work relevant to the modern, postCold War world?