Politics Among Nations

work by Morgenthau

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July 1, 2026

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Hans J. Morgenthau's Politics Among Nations (1948) is a foundational text in classical realism, a theory of international relations that emphasizes the role of the state, national interest, and power in global politics. Morgenthau argued that politics is governed by immutable laws of nature, and states should rationally pursue their national interests, defined primarily in terms of power. He stressed that all state actions aim to increase power and advocated for traditional diplomacy, including compromise, to manage international affairs. The book became a widely used textbook and a key exposition of realist theory, influencing subsequent scholars in the field.123

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Hans Morgenthau
In 1948 Morgenthau published Politics Among Nations, a highly regarded study that presented what became commonly known as the classical realist approach to international politics. In this work, Morgenthau maintained that politics is governed by distinct immutable laws of nature and that states could deduce rational and objectively correct…
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In 1948 Morgenthau published Politics Among Nations, a highly regarded study that presented what became commonly known as the classical realist approach to international politics. In this work, Morgenthau maintained that politics is governed by distinct immutable laws of nature and that states could deduce rational and objectively correct…
Read More

realism
Classical realism in international relations
Morgenthau’s Politics Among Nations (1948) helped to meet the need for a general theoretical framework for realism. Not only did it become one of the most extensively used textbooks in the United States and Britain—it continued to be republished in new editions over the next half…
Read More
Morgenthau’s Politics Among Nations (1948) helped to meet the need for a general theoretical framework for realism. Not only did it become one of the most extensively used textbooks in the United States and Britain—it continued to be republished in new editions over the next half…
Read More

international relations
The postwar ascendancy of realism
Morgenthau’s Politics Among Nations (1948) helped to meet the need for a general theoretical framework. Not only did it become one of the most extensively used textbooks in the United States and Britain—it continued to be republished over the next half century—it also was an essential…
Read More
Morgenthau’s Politics Among Nations (1948) helped to meet the need for a general theoretical framework. Not only did it become one of the most extensively used textbooks in the United States and Britain—it continued to be republished over the next half century—it also was an essential…
Read More