This is the first comprehensive study of how different ethical traditions deal with the central moral problems of international affairs. Using the organising concept of a tradition, it shows that ethics offers many different languages for moral debate rather than a set of unified doctrines. Each chapter describes the central concepts, premises, vocabulary and history of a particular tradition and explains how that tradition has dealt with a set of recurring ethical issues in international relations. Such issues include national self-determination, the use of force in armed intervention or nuclear deterrence, and global distributive justice. Written by leading specialists in the US and UK, this book treats the subject of international ethics in an encyclopaedic way. It allows readers to identify internal tensions within, as well as points of agreement and disagreement between, a wide variety of traditions.
• The first comprehensive study of how different ethical traditions deal with the central moral problems of international affairs • Easily accessible, each chapter written by a leading scholar examining a single ethical tradition and how it responds to international problems • Hardback has sold well (c.800 in a year), and has attracted much interest from lecturers who want to use it as a student text
Contents
1. Ethical traditions in international affairs Terry Nardin; 2. The tradition of international law Murray Forsyth; 3. The declaratory tradition in modern international law Dorothy V. Jones; 4. Classical realism Steven Forde; 5. Twentieth century realism Jack Donnelly; 6. Natural law and international ethics Joseph Boyle; 7. Kant's global rationalism Thomas Donaldson; 8. Utilitarianism and international ethics Anthony Ellis; 9. The contractarian tradition and international ethics David R. Mapel; 10. Liberalism and international reform Michael Joseph Smith; 11. Marxism and international ethics Chris Brown; 12. The idea of rights in international ethics R. J. Vincent; 13. Biblical argument in international ethics Michael G. Cartwright; 14. Convergence and divergence in international ethics David R. Mapel and Terry Nardin.
Reviews
‘This outstanding collection of essays canvasses the main ethical ideas on international relations. The editors have done a splendid job in organising the volume and the contributors have produced substantial and stimulating chapters … The finest collection of essays on international ethics available.’ Robert Jackson, Political Studies
‘The thirteen authors, two editors, and Cambridge University Press should be exceedingly proud of this study … a careful, consistent presentation of various philosophical approaches … ’ Tom Grassey, Ethics
Printer friendly version
Email a colleague