New volume on 'Rethinking Realism in International Relations'

DIIS researcher contributes with the 'presence of the past' in contemporary foreign policy
Hans Mouritzen has published 'Past versus Present Geopolitics. Cautiously Opening the Realist door to the Past', pp. 164-189 in Rethinking Realism in International Relations. Between Tradition and Innovation, edited by Freyberg-Inan, Harrison & James, Baltimore/US: Johns Hopkins University Press. The article is presented thus by the editors in the introduction of the volume:

‘Hans Mouritzen makes an original contribution to the development of foreign policy theory within the broader theoretical framework of geopolitics…His theory explains how current geopolitical considerations usually trump lessons drawn from past geopolitical experiences in elite decision-making. The primacy of present geopolitics is claimed to increase with the danger perceived to emanate from the current situation, so that influence from the past come to be seen as ‘luxury’ inputs into the decision-making process, which play large roles only in times of relative security and large action space. The primacy of present geopolitics is moreover argued to be generally beneficial, as reliance on one particular geopolitical lesson from the past is seen as a common source of bad judgement.’

The volume, that is available in paperback, should be of interest to university students and researchers mainly. It ‘provides the best overview of contemporary discourse on realism. All those interested in the future of realism and whether (and how) it can move forward will want to read this book’ (John A. Vasquez, University of Illinois/US).