Makt och moral - En studie i den klassiska realismen och amerikanska utrikespolitiska doktriner
Foreign PolicyClassical RealismEthicsAmerican PolicyPresidential doctrinePolitical and administrative sciencesStatsvetenskapFörvaltningskunskapLaw and Political Science
This essay focuses on the theory of classical realism from two points of views. Realism is often told to be quite immoral and cynical and only interested in the power relations among nations. In the first part I am arguing that this picture is wrong and should be revised. By using the ethical theories of deontology and utilitarianism I am arguing that both these perspectives can be used to analyse classical realism. By defining a value that should be guiding one can assert that realism is a good moral theory. The value that has been used in this essay is the national interest. The other part on classical realism has been used by trying to understand the American president's foreign policy doctrine. Can the realist theory describe these doctrines? I am examining if one could apply realism on Ronald Reagan's and George W. Bush's doctrines. The evidence towards Bush is overwhelming and the evidence towards Reagan is also rather strong too. But to be able to conclude more than just the Republican Presidents I have also used Jimmy Carters doctrine and, a bit surprising, I have found proof that also Carter's foreign policy doctrine is in large a classical realist doctrine.