An unwritten future : realism and uncertainty in world politics / Jonathan Kirshner.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kirshner, Jonathan, author.

Series:

Princeton studies in international history and politics.

Princeton studies in international history and politics

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political realism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (336 p.) : 4 b/w illus.

Edition:

1.

Place of Publication:

Princeton ; Oxford : Princeton University Press, [2022]

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

"An Unwritten Future offers a fresh reassessment of classical realism, an enduring approach to understanding crucial events in the international political arena. Jonathan Kirshner identifies the fundamental flaws of classical realism's would-be successors, and shows how this older, more nuanced, and sophisticated method for studying world politics better explains the formative events of the past. Kirshner also reveals how this approach is ideally equipped to comprehend the vital questions of the present-such as the implications of China's rise, the ways that social and economic change alter the balance of power and the nature of international conflict, and the consequences of the end of the US-led postwar order for the future of world politics. Laying out realism's core principles, Kirshner discusses the contributions of the perspective's key thinkers, including Thucydides, Hans Morgenthau, and Raymond Aron, among others. He illustrates how a classical realist approach gives new insights into major upheavals of the twentieth century, such as Britain's appeasement of Nazi Germany and America's ruinous involvement in Vietnam. Kirshner also addresses realism's limits and explores contemporary issues, including the ascent of great power challengers, the political implications of globalization, and the diffusion of power in modern world politics. A reexamination of the realist tradition, with a renewed emphasis on the crucial roles played by uncertainty, contingency, and contestation, An Unwritten Future demonstrates how a once-popular school of thought provides invaluable insights into pressing real-world problems"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Illustrations

Preface

Introduction and Overview

Chapter 1. What Is Classical Realism? Thucydides and His Descendants

Chapter 2. Reclaiming Realism

Chapter 3. Why We Need Classical Realism: Enduring Puzzles

Chapter 4. The Limits of Classical Realism

Chapter 5. Realism, Economics, and Politics

Chapter 6. Classical Realism and the Rise of China

Chapter 7. Power, Politics, and Prospect: The Craft of Classical Realism

Acknowledgments

Notes

Index

A Note on the Type

Notes:

Includes index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9780691233123

0691233128

OCLC:

1336404878