Cosmopolitanism and International Relations Theory

by Beardsworth, Richard

• ISBN13: 9780745643243
• ISBN10: 0745643248
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-06-13
• Publisher: Polity

Summary

Globalization has been contested in recent times. Among the critical perspectives is cosmopolitanism. Yet, with the exception of normative theory, International Relations as a field has ignored cosmopolitan thinking. This book redresses this gap and develops a dialogue between cosmopolitanism and International Relations. The dialogue is structured around three debates between non-universalist theories of international relations and contemporary cosmopolitan thought. The theories chosen are realism, (post-)Marxism and postmodernism. All three criticize liberalism in the international domain, and, therefore, cosmopolitanism as an offshoot of liberalism. In the light of each school's respective critique of universalism, the book suggests both the importance and difficulty of the cosmopolitan perspective in the contemporary world. Beardsworth emphasizes the need for global leadership at nation-state level, re-embedding of the world economy, a cosmopolitan politics of the lesser violence, and cosmopolitan political judgement. He also suggests research agendas to situate further contemporary cosmopolitanism in International Relations theory. This book will appeal to all students of Political Theory and International Relations, especially those who are seeking more articulation of the main issues between cosmopolitanism and its critics in International Relations.

Author Biography

Richard Beardsworth is Professor of Political Philosophy and International Relations at The American University of Paris

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. viii
Introduction	p. 1
The Spectrum of Cosmopolitanism	p. 16
The Historical Background to the Cosmopolitan Disposition	p. 17
The Cosmopolitan Spectrum	p. 21
Cultural cosmopolitanism	p. 21
Moral cosmopolitanism	p. 23
Normative cosmopolitanism	p. 29
Institutional cosmopolitanism	p. 34
Legal cosmopolitanism	p. 36
Political cosmopolitanism	p. 40
Conclusion	p. 46
The Realist Critique of Cosmopolitanism	p. 48
The Major Tenets of Realism	p. 49
Critique of Cosmopolitanism	p. 56
The Realist approach to international law	p. 56
Cosmopolitan 'domination'	p. 63
Humanitarian intervention and political moralism	p. 66
Towards a prudent politics of limits	p. 70
Conclusion	p. 73
A Cosmopolitan Response to Realism	p. 75
The Status of the Normative in Conditions of Interdependence	p. 76
Power, Interest and Legitimacy: A Cosmopolitan Perspective	p. 81
Category Errors: Domestic Analogy, 'Legalistic-Moralistic' Fallacy and Anarchy	p. 90
Humanitarian Intervention: Towards a Cosmopolitan Realism	p. 97
From the Principle of Sovereignty to the Principle of Subsidiarity	p. 104
Conclusion	p. 108
The Marxist Critique of Cosmopolitanism	p. 111
The Major Tenets of Marxism	p. 114
From Embedded Liberalism to Neo-liberalism	p. 122
The Marxist Critique of Cosmopolitanism	p. 128
Cosmopolitan lack of economic analysis and complicity with global liberal governance	p. 130
Deep reasons for global inequality: beyond cosmopolitan surface	p. 134
The cosmopolitan substitution of ethics for politics	p. 137
Nation-state particularity contra cosmopolitan universality: the Marxist response to globalization	p. 138
Conclusion	p. 139
A Cosmopolitan Response to Marxism	p. 141
Cosmopolitan Reformism	p. 144
Cosmopolitanism and the capitalist system	p. 144
Cosmopolitan reflection on the market and regulation	p. 146
'Global Social Democracy': What Can This Concept Mean? Re-embedded Liberalism	p. 153
The Cosmopolitan Logic of Re-embedded Liberalism	p. 159
Global Energy Futures: Economic Dilemma and State Leadership	p. 162
Conclusion	p. 169
The Postmodern Critique of Cosmopolitanism	p. 172
Postmodernism, Modernity and IR	p. 173
Foucault and Agamben: The Biopolitical Fate of Liberal Governmentality	p. 176
The Illiberal Practices of Global Liberal Governance	p. 182
The politics of security	p. 182
The liberal way of war	p. 183
Depoliticization of the victim	p. 187
Jacques Derrida: Law, Democracy-to-come and Ethico-political Responsibility	p. 189
Conclusion	p. 197
A Cosmopolitan Response to Postmodernism	p. 199
The Logic of Liberal Law I: What Is Liberal Law?	p. 200
The Logic of Liberal Law II: Cosmopolitan Response to Postmodern Reflection on Law	p. 204
A Politics of the Lesser Violence: Cosmopolitan Response to Illiberal Liberalism	p. 210
Political Judgement and Risk: A Cosmopolitan Response to Derrida and his IR Legacy	p. 218
Conclusion	p. 224
Conclusion: Idealism and Realism Today	p. 227
Notes	p. 238
References	p. 244
Index	p. 264
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