Reflections on Bain, Political Theology of International Order
| Author | Daniel Philpott |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/17550882221144469 |
| Published date | 01 February 2023 |
| Date | 01 February 2023 |
| Subject Matter | Forum |
https://doi.org/10.1177/17550882221144469
Journal of International Political Theory
2023, Vol. 19(1) 130 –135
© The Author(s) 2022
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DOI: 10.1177/17550882221144469
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Reflections on Bain, Political
Theology of International
Order
Daniel Philpott
University of Notre Dame, USA
Abstract
William Bain sustains his audacious claim to write a landmark in international relations
thought. His view that the medieval theological debate between imposed order and
immanent order structures contemporary thought about international order is largely
compelling, especially in light of his demonstration that certain thinkers such as Hobbes
and Grotius served as transmission belts, carrying this debate into modernity. He also
persuasively shows that imposed order, or nominalism, dominates today’s schools
of international relations thought, while immanent order only whispers its dissent. I
raise two questions in critical conversation. First, while Bain argues persuasively that
political theology persists after Westphalia, which he seeks to debunk as a milestone
in secularization, nevertheless Westphalia stands as a milestone in the marginalization
of religion (though not political theology) as an influential force in politics. Second,
while Bain demurs from choosing between imposed and immanent order on normative
grounds, his claim that the choice is a matter of faith appears to be a choice for imposed
order. Clarifying this normative question is an apposite task for this important author’s
next book.
Keywords
International ethics, international order, justice, religion
Claims that a book is a landmark or milestone are cheapened by their frequent appear-
ance on book jackets. William Bain’s claim that his book, Political Theology of
International Order, “repositions the story that international relations scholars typically
tell about their subject,” aims to “displace founding myths, amend reified narratives, and
Corresponding author:
Daniel Philpott, University of Notre Dame, 2060 Nanovic Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA.
Email: James.D.Philpott.1@nd.edu
1144469IPT0010.1177/17550882221144469Journal of International Political TheoryPhilpott
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