Hans Kelsen's Political Realism - Paperback

by Robert Schuett (Author)

This book is the first work to show this iconic legal philosopher's significance as a progressive political realist. In a lively account of Kelsen's life and political thinking, Robert Schuett introduces him as a political realist and brings his thought on human nature, the state and war into productive tension with today's Schmittians and conventional views of foreign policy realism.

At a precarious moment in world history, where Western liberal principles are challenged by visions of illiberal democracy at home and abroad, this new reading of the Pure theory of law, state and international legal order is a timely defense of the ideals of an open society through a realistic style of politics.

Back Jacket

Challenging conventional views of Hans Kelsen and foreign-policy realism in International Relations theory This book is the first work to show this iconic legal philosopher's significance as a progressive political realist. In a lively account of Kelsen's life and political thinking, Robert Schuett introduces him as a political realist and brings his thought on human nature, the state and war into productive tension with today's Schmittians and conventional views of foreign policy realism. At a precarious moment in world history, where Western liberal principles are challenged by visions of illiberal democracy at home and abroad, this new reading of the Pure theory of law, state and international legal order is a timely defense of the ideals of an open society through a realistic style of politics. Robert Schuett is a Visiting Fellow in the Department of Political Science at the University of Salzburg.

Author Biography

Robert Schuett is a Visiting Fellow in the Department of Political Science at the University of Salzburg. He has a Ph.D. from the School of Government and International Affairs at Durham University. His research and teaching interests are International Relations theory and foreign-policy realism. Recent publications include The Edinburgh Companion to Political Realism (Edinburgh University Press, 2018) and The Concept of the State in International Relations (Edinburgh University Press, 2015). He lives and works in Vienna.