The Twenty Years’ Crisis, 1919–1939: An Introduction to the Study of International Relations

The Twenty Years' Crisis, 1919–1939: An Introduction to the Study of International Relations by E.H. Carr critiques the idealistic approach to international relations that emerged after World War I. Carr argued that this idealism, particularly the belief in progress through institutions like the League of Nations, was dangerous and unrealistic. He emphasized the persistent role of power and national self-interest in shaping state behavior, a perspective that gained traction following the outbreak of World War II. Carr's work is a foundational text in the realist tradition of international relations, which views states as primary actors operating in an anarchic system where power dynamics are central.12