Hans Morgenthau and Foreign Policy Prescriptions

Realism as an explanatory theory in International Relations is often associated with an emphasis on the significance of power, war, and conflict in interstate affairs. Hence many students and scholars of international relations assume, first, that realism as an explanatory theory should not, in principle, prescribe foreign policy, and second, that if it were to move from explanation to prescription, a realist foreign policy would necessarily be aggressive, conflict-seeking, power-oriented, and expansionist. By contrast, Hans Morgenthau, the renowned classical realist, who took explicitly prescriptive positions on foreign policy—especially the foreign policy of the United States—frequently adopted a critical stance toward expansionist and aggressive policies. His prescription of moderation in foreign policies makes his position appear somehow in opposition to his emphasis on power and conflictual nature of international life. The question that arises here is how the metatheoretical and theoretical foundations of Morgenthau’s classical realism make possible the prescription of moderate policies. This article aims to clarify Morgenthau’s foreign policy prescription based on the peace-oriented foundations of his theory, his emphasis on ethics of responsibility, and his view of theoretical knowledge, to establish the centrality of the concept of prudence as his guiding principle. Phronesis is taken here as the guiding conceptual framework and textual analysis is applied to understand Morgenthau’s prescriptions. The main conclusion is that his Realism is far from being inconsistent if one avoids simplistic reading of his work and/or the fallacy of petitio principii.