Philosophy and international relations

pp. 43-71

in: Davide Orsi, Michael Oakeshott's political philosophy of international relations, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2016

Abstract

This chapter shows that Oakeshott's philosophy is relevant to debates in international theory. It demonstrates that the critique of rationalism in politics is linked to the second Great Debate between classical and scientific approaches that was developed in the second half of the twentieth century. It shows that in Oakeshott's texts there are references to Morgenthau's critique of scientific politics, and that Hedley Bull's argument against the scientific approach resembles Oakeshott's one against rationalism. The chapter also highlights some of the differences between Oakeshott's conception of history and those defended by the English School. The relevance of Oakeshott's philosophy for the development of the so-called normative turn in International Relations is demonstrated. Finally, the chapter highlights some of the similarities between Oakeshott's epistemology and recent constructivist literature.