Event

The Atlantic Realists: Empire and International Political Thought between Germany and the United States

  • Date: September 16, 2022

In The Atlantic Realists (Stanford, 2022), Matthew Specter (Institute for European Studies) offers a boldly revisionist interpretation of “realism,” a prevalent stance in post-WWII US foreign policy and public discourse and the dominant international relations theory during the Cold War.

Challenging the common view of realism as a set of universally binding truths about international affairs, Specter argues that its major features emerged from a century-long dialogue between American and German intellectuals beginning in the late 19th century. He uncovers an “Atlantic realist” tradition of reflection on the prerogatives of empire and the nature of power politics conditioned by two world wars, the Holocaust, and the Cold War. Focusing on key figures in the evolution of realist thought, including Carl Schmitt, Hans Morgenthau, and Wilhelm Grewe, the book traces the development of the realist worldview over a century, dismantling myths about the national interest, Realpolitik, and the “art” of statesmanship.

Specter is joined by Nils Gilman. After a brief discussion, they respond to questions from the audience.

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About The Altlantic Realists
In The Atlantic Realists, intellectual historian Matthew Specter offers a boldly revisionist interpretation of “realism,” a prevalent stance in post-WWII US foreign policy and public discourse and the dominant international relations theory during the Cold War. Challenging the common view of realism as a set of universally binding truths about international affairs, Specter argues that its major features emerged from a century-long dialogue between American and German intellectuals beginning in the late nineteenth century. Specter uncovers an “Atlantic realist” tradition of reflection on the prerogatives of empire and the nature of power politics conditioned by fin de siècle imperial competition, two world wars, the Holocaust, and the Cold War. Focusing on key figures in the evolution of realist thought, including Carl Schmitt, Hans Morgenthau, and Wilhelm Grewe, this book traces the development of the realist worldview over a century, dismantling myths about the national interest, Realpolitik, and the “art” of statesmanship.

About the Author
Matthew Specter is a Senior Fellow at the Institute of European Studies and teaches modern European history, global history, and political thought at the University of California, Berkeley. He is also Associate Editor of the journal History and Theory. His first book was Habermas: An Intellectual Biography (2010). He researches the history of international thought.

Guest Speakers

Matthew Specter

Nils Gilman

About The Berggruen Institute

About The Berggruen Institute

About The Berggruen Institute

About The Berggruen Institute

About The Berggruen Institute

About The Berggruen Institute

About The Berggruen Institute

About The Berggruen Institute

About The Berggruen Institute

About The Berggruen Institute

The Berggruen Institute’s mission is to develop foundational ideas and shape political, economic, and social institutions for the 21st century. Providing critical analysis using an outwardly expansive and purposeful network, we bring together some of the best minds and most authoritative voices from across cultural and political boundaries to explore fundamental questions of our time. Our objective is enduring impact on the progress and direction of societies around the world.