Peace and War: A Theory of International Relations
by Raymond Aron
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Peace and War by Raymond Aron is one of the greatest books ever written on international relations. Aron's starting point is the state of nature that exists between nations, a condition that differs essentially from the civil state that holds within political communities. Ever keeping this brute fact about the life of nations in mind and ranging widely over political history and many disciplines, Aron develops the essential analytical tools to enable us to think clearly about the stakes and show more possibilities of international relations. In his first section, "Theory," Aron shows that, while international relations can be mapped, and probabilities discerned, no closed, global "science" of international relations is anything more than a mirage. In the second part, "Sociology," Aron studies the many ways various subpolitical forces influence foreign policy. He emphasizes that no rigorous determinism is at work: politics--and thus the need for prudent statesmanship--are inescapable in international relations. In part three, "History," Aron offers a magisterial survey of the twentieth century. He looks at key developments that have had an impact on foreign policy and the emergence of what he calls "universal history," which brings far-flung peoples into regular contact for the first time. In a final section, "Praxeology," Aron articulates a normative theory of international relations that rejects both the bleak vision of the Machiavellians, who hold that any means are legitimate, and the naivete of the idealists, who think foreign policy can be overcome. This new edition of Peace and War includes an informative introduction by Daniel J. Mahoney and Brian C. Anderson, situating Aron's thought in a new post-Cold War context, and evaluating his contribution to the study of politics and international relations. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Intussen uiteraard verouderd, maar het blijft de basisintroductie tot de realiteit van de internationale betrekkingen. Sterk geofysisch gedragen. Voor mij was dit destijds een echte eye-opener.
Oct 8, 2010 (Edited)Dutch
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Author Information
138+ Works 2,876 Members
Raymond Aron was a French political scientist, economist, and philosopher who was several times a visiting professor in the United States. He commented regularly and influentially on social and political topics and current issues in the conservative French newspaper Le Figaro, in books and on radio, and as a teacher at L'ecole pratique des hautes show more etudes, in Paris. Because of his consistent opposition to Marxism and his admiration and respect for the United States, Aron was perhaps not so highly regarded as French intellectuals of the Left. But he was always a voice for reason and moderation at a time when his critics were often strident and ineffectual. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Awards and Honors
Awards
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Peace and War: A Theory of International Relations
- Original title
- Paix et guerre entre les nations
- Original publication date
- 1962
- Original language
- French
Classifications
- Genres
- Sociology, Nonfiction, Politics and Government, General Nonfiction, History, Philosophy
- DDC/MDS
- 327 — Society, government, & culture Political science International Relations: Spies
- LCC
- JX1395 .A7313 — Political Science International law, see JZ and KZ (obsolete) International law, see JZ and KZ Foreign relations
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 126
- Popularity
- 262,018
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.75)
- Languages
- 6 — English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 22
- ASINs
- 4
