Table of Contents

Preface Acknowledgments 1. The Historical Setting of Modern American Realism and the Thermonuclear Revolution 2. Reinhold Niebuhr and the Emergence of American Realism, 1932-44 3. Harsh Realism for an Atomic Age? Hans Morgenthau, 1946-52 4. Niebuhr and the Thermonuclear Dilemma, 1945-1963 5. Morgenthau and the Thermonuclear Dilemma 6. The Waltzian Turn 7. Retreat from Parsimony Conclusion Bibliography Index

Promotional Information

The Second World War put an end to America's historical isolationism. Three American thinkers-Reinhold Niebuhr, Hans Morgenthau, and Kenneth Waltz-developed a modern strategic framework that sought to introduce Americans to the harsher realities of international politics. Yet even as the United States began to embrace this new Realism, atomic weaponry threatened to make it absurd. This engrossing story of how the three chief architects of a powerful ideology struggled with the implications of their own creation offers crucial context for contemporary debates about the resort to war and weapons of mass destruction.

About the Author

Campbell Craig is professor of international relations at the University of Southampton, United Kingdom.

Reviews

"The most compelling account to date of how realism gave way to neorealism in the face of a nuclearized world." -- Lawrence D. Freedman, Foreign Affairs "Craig's book is to be commended for shedding light on how three important thinkers dealt with one of the most important issues of international politics... an important contribution to the intellectual history of the field of International Relations." -- Brian Schmidt, International Affairs "This is a highly commendable study. It will be essential reading." -- Ian Jackson, Journal of American Studies "Craig's treatment of these thinkers is subtle, insightful, and revealing. A more accessible introduction to realist thought would be hard to imagine." -- H. W. Brands, American Historical Review "Breathes fresh air into the stultifying atmosphere of realist theory." -- William E. Scheuerman, Constellations "Craig's book provides a fine example of how substantial intellectual history can contribute to an engagement with contemporary political dilemmas." -- Michael C. Williams, Contemporary Political Theory