The anti-Pelagian imagination in political theory and international relations: dealing in darkness

This volume draws together some of the key works of Nicholas Rengger, focusing on the theme of the 'anti-Pelagian imagination' in political theory and international relations. Rengger frames the collection with a detailed introduction that sketches out this 'imagination', its origins and character, and puts the chapters that follow into context with the work of other theorists, including Bull, Connolly, Gray, Strauss, Elshtain and Kant. The volume concludes with an epilogue contrasting two different ways of reading this sensibility and offering reasons for supposing one is preferable to the other. Updating and expanding on ideas from work over the course of the last sixteen years, this collection will be of great interest to students and scholars of international relations theory, political thought and political philosophy. --

1. Introduction : dealing in darkness? : varieties of modern anti-pelagianism -- 2. Progress : Kant, Mendelsohn and the very idea -- 3. Bull : a double vision? -- 4. Remember the Aeneid : (and beware Greek gifts) -- 5. Human rights : emancipation or incarceration? -- 6. Dystopic liberalism : realism tamed or liberalism betrayed? -- 7. Progress with price? -- 8. Connolly : Nietzsche or Augustine? -- 9. Gray : the end(s) of progress? -- 10. Strauss : the impossibility of justice -- 11. Elshtain 1 : anti-pelagian or not? -- 12. Elshtain 2 : violence and the two sovereigns -- 13. Post-secularism : metaphysical not political? -- 14. Epilogue : tragedy or scepticism?

Cover -- Half Title -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication -- Table of Contents -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- 1 Introduction: dealing in darkness? Varieties of modern anti-Pelagianism -- 2 Progress: Kant, Mendelssohn and the very idea -- 3 Bull: a double vision? -- 4 Remember the Aeneid? (And beware Greek gifts) -- 5 Human rights: emancipation or incarceration -- 6 Dystopic liberalism and the international order: realism tamed or liberalism betrayed? -- 7 Progress with Price? -- 8 Connolly: Nietzsche or Augustine? -- 9 Gray: the end(s) of progress? -- 10 Strauss: the impossibility of justice -- 11 Elshtain 1: anti-Pelagian or not? -- 12 Elshtain 2: violence and the two sovereigns -- 13 Post-secularism: metaphysical not political? -- 14 Epilogue: tragedy or scepticism? -- Index