A Realist before 'Realism': Quincy Wright and the Study of International Politics between Two World Wars

In: The journal of strategic studies, Band 24, Heft 1, S. 71-103

Abstract

Contrary to conventional belief, IR theorist Quincy Wright & his cohort before WWII were neither idealists, legalists, nor moralists. Deeply grounded in the realism & pragmatism that marked the U of Chicago's interwar climate, Wright applied an ethically neutral & empirical approach to understanding international relations. Unlike the stereotypical interwar theorist, Wright eschewed legalism. He recognized that a struggle for power drove international politics & would continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Above all, Wright embraced the complexities of international politics, rejecting monocausal explanations for war or simplistic frameworks for understanding international relations. Adapted from the source document.