Description
Book SynopsisThrough a critical evaluation of the works of Norman Angell and David Mitrany, this book explores the liberal roots of the academic discipline of International Relations (IR). Ashworth argues that, far from being the product of timeless realist truths, IR's origins are rooted in liberal attempts to reform international affairs. Norman Angell's work represents the first attempt to develop a comprehensive ''new liberal'' approach to the problem of global governance, while David Mitrany's exploration of the problems of international life led him to apply the left-liberal idea of functional government to global governance. Both writers demonstrated the extent to which early twentieth century liberal writers on international affairs had answered the critics of earlier nineteenth century liberal internationalists. The penultimate chapter argues that the realist-idealist ''Great Debate'' never happened, and that liberal scholars such as Angell and Mitrany have been unfairly dismissed as
Trade Review’Ashworth’s rich and varied discussion provides an intriguing revisionist history of international relations theory...important reading for all those interested in the development of liberal internationalism in the twentieth century.’ David Long, Carleton University, Canada ’...provides a vivid historical analysis of the search for peace in the beginning of the previous century.’ Millennium: Journal of International Studies ’...offers fresh insights into the idealist-materialist debate over the causes of war...[an] admirably clear argument for the liberal genesis of modern international studies...’ The International History Review
Table of ContentsContents: Introduction: Liberalism and the emergence of IR; Precursors to Angell and Mitrany: nineteenth century liberal roads to peace; The international thought of Norman Angell: from the great illusion to the public mind; Mitrany and the emergence of the functional approach; The inter-war Realist-Idealist great debate: real or imagined?; Angell and Mitrany in retrospect: perpetual peace and the problems of reason; Bibliography; Index.
