Ethics and International Relations

A Tragic Perspective

Richard Ned Lebow

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781108843461
• eBook ISBN: 9781108911658
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: International Relations
• Index: Politics & International Relations

Lebow demonstrates that foreign policies consistent with generally accepted ethical norms are more likely to succeed, and those at odds with them to fail. Constructing original data sets and analyzing multiple case studies, Lebow makes an empirical case for ethics in international relations. His approach looks to create a productive dialogue between those who ask primarily 'ought' questions and those who pose 'is' questions. The former want to establish appropriate criteria for the behaviour of state and non-state actors and the discourses that lead to their policy decisions, whereas scholars who pose 'is' questions are concerned with how political actors behave and the principles and assumptions that might explain their behaviour. Lebow bridges the gap between 'is' and 'ought' questions by making an instrumental argument in favour of ethical foreign policy.He examines policymaking as well as policy, offering ethical guidelines for policymaking that are likely to result in more successful policies.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half-title page
• Title page
• Copyright page
• Contents
• Preface
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Tragedy and Foreign Policy
• 3 Crime and Punishment
• 4 Successful Foreign Policies
• 5 Policymaking
• 6 Conclusions
• Index