The End of Open Society Realism?

Schuett, Robert

Abstract

Does the ‘Zeitenwende’ herald the beginning of a new and as yet undefined open society realism? The present essay argues this question requires critical discussion of nature and value of realist political theory, particularly at a time where international society is accelerating to somewhere which is itself as yet unclear. Adding to revisionist research on political realism in International Relations (IR) theory I sketch how a political vision I call open society realism may be developed out of Classical realism, in sharp distinction to academic IR neorealism for methodological and political reasons. To strip foreign policy realism from Continental philosophy, law, and history risks that we become what political liberalism ought to avoid: a closed society with a good conscience retreating from world politics, hiding behind the ‘national’ interest as if strategic great power management is a methodic function of structure rather than the politics of an ethically conscious diplomacy.

Citation

Schuett, R. (2022). The End of Open Society Realism?. Analyse and Kritik, 44(2), 219-242. https://doi.org/10.1515/auk-2022-2024

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 31, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Sep 19, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022
• Deposit Date: Nov 9, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 22, 2023
• Journal: Analyse & Kritik
• Print ISSN: 0171-5860
• Electronic ISSN: 2365-9858
• Publisher: De Gruyter
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 44
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 219-242
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/auk-2022-2024
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1186968