The ethics of Carr and Wendt: Fairness and peace
| Author | Arash Heydarian Pashakhanlou |
| Published date | 01 October 2018 |
| Date | 01 October 2018 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/1755088218758117 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
https://doi.org/10.1177/1755088218758117
Journal of International Political Theory
2018, Vol. 14(3) 314 –330
© The Author(s) 2018
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DOI: 10.1177/1755088218758117
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The ethics of Carr and Wendt:
Fairness and peace
Arash Heydarian Pashakhanlou
Swedish Defence University, Sweden
Abstract
The, classical realist writings of E.H. Carr and constructivist publications of Alexander
Wendt are extraordinarily influential. While they have provoked a great number of
reactions within the discipline of International Relations, the ethical dimensions of their
works have rarely been studied at length. This article seeks to remedy this lack of
examination by engaging in an in-depth scrutiny of the moral concerns of these two
mainstream International Relations scholars. On investigation, it is revealed that Carr
demonstrates a strong commitment to the ethical principle of fairness and Wendt a
moral concern for the prevention of the use of organized violence. These concerns are
shared by Rawlsians and cosmopolitans in International Relations, and these findings
may thereby encourage closer engagement between these diverse communities that
rarely speak to one another and strengthen disciplinary research on morals.
Keywords
Alexander Wendt, E. H. Carr, ethics, fairness, international relations, peace
Introduction
Normative International Relations (IR) scholars proclaim that moral issues1 have been,
and continue to be, marginalized within the mainstream, with the exception of liberal-
ism/idealism (Brown, 1992, 2012b; Erskine, 2001; Frost, 1996, 2008; Hayden, 2016;
Lebow, 2016: 36; Nardin, 1983; Navari, 2013: 208). Toni Erskine (2001: 67–68) attrib-
utes this lack of engagement with ethical considerations to conventional approaches such
as realism and constructivism. This article engages with the issue by conducting an in-
depth scrutiny of morality in the classical realist works of E.H. Carr2 and the constructiv-
ist publications of Alexander Wendt.3 This approach is privileged over the alternative
method4 of addressing realism and constructivism as generic schools of thought since
Corresponding author:
Arash Heydarian Pashakhanlou, Swedish Defence University, Drottning Kristinas väg 37, Stockholm 115 93,
Sweden.
Email: arash.h.pashakhanlou@gmail.com
758117IPT0010.1177/1755088218758117Journal of International Political TheoryPashakhanlou
research-article2018
Article
Pashakhanlou 315
there are significant differences between scholars labeled under these broad intellectual
traditions (Hopf, 1998; Pashakhanlou, 2013, 2014, 2016). It would therefore be arbitrary
to lump them all together under the false presupposition that they represent a unified
homogeneous block. In short, focusing on these two specific theorists allows for a deeper,
nuanced, and accurate analysis.
Carr and Wendt are appropriate for this inquiry since they are prominent representa-
tives of realism and constructivism, respectively. Mika Luoma-Aho (2012: 66, 72) argues
that Carr and Wendt should be studied in liaison with one another since Wendt’s theory
is based on Carr’s conception of international community. Moreover, Carr is widely
regarded as the realist who delivered a devastating critique of moral principles in the
study and practice of international politics (see, for example, Mearsheimer, 2005), while
Wendt is regarded as the constructivist who omits the ethical dimension of world politics
(Bottici, 2009: 121; Erskine, 2001: 67–68; Zehfuss, 2002: 34).5 Hence, Carr and Wendt
pose tough cases for the purposes of this article.
Finally, even though much ink has been spilled on analyzing Carr’s and Wendt’s
highly influential publications (Cox, 2000; Guzzini and Leander, 2006; Haslam, 2000b;
Jones, 1998), the moral dimension of their publications has rarely been covered in-depth.
In fact, there are only a few systematic examinations on Carr’s ethics (Molloy, 2009,
2013; Rich, 2000). None of these investigations addresses the role of fairness in his
thought as this examination does. Concerning Wendt, there are currently no rigorous
studies on the moral dimension of his writings. This is why some scholars have argued
that more attention should be devoted to the largely implicit role of ethics in his thought
(Hasenclever et al., 1997: 192). By uncovering the ethics of Carr and Wendt, this inquiry
thus addresses an important gap in the existing literature.
Specifically, this inquiry focuses on the moral concern of their works. It does so by a
careful reading of these leading scholars’ writings. In the case of Carr, the emphasis will
be on The Twenty Years’ Crisis, Conditions of Peace, and Nationalism and After since
they are his major publications on IR. This is so despite the fact that Conditions of Peace
and Nationalism and After are largely ignored by contemporary students of international
politics, which is problematic as they are essential for understanding his thought (Wilson,
2001: 125). Concerning Wendt, the focus will be on Social Theory of International
Politics and “Why the World State is Inevitable.” This is because these two publications
offer the most comprehensive account of his understanding of international politics and
his ethical concern.
The research question that this article seeks to address is thus as follows: What are the
moral concerns of Carr and Wendt and how does it inform their analysis of international
politics? The investigation reveals that the principle of fairness, defined as a judgment
free from self-interest and deception in which the relevant parties are treated in an accept-
able way under the given situation, is the ethical concern of Carr. This is so even though
he realizes that this principle is not always attainable in practice at the international level.
Peace defined as the prevention of the use of organized violence is the main ethical con-
cern of Wendt.6 Wendt’s remedy is the establishment of a Kantian culture of interstate
amity in Social Theory of International Politics. The later and more radical Wendt sug-
gests an abandonment of the entire Westphalia state system in favor of a unified world
state in “Why the World State is Inevitable” to accomplish this task.
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