Bounding Power: Republican Security Theory from the Polis to the Global Village

by Daniel H. Deudney

Realism, the dominant theory of international relations, particularly regarding security, seems compelling in part because of its claim to embody so much of Western political thought from the ancient Greeks to the present. Its main challenger, liberalism, looks to Kant and nineteenth-century economists. Despite their many insights, neither realism nor liberalism gives us adequate tools to grapple with security globalization, the liberal ascent, and the American role in their development. In reality, both realism and liberalism and their main insights were largely invented by republicans writing about republics.


The main ideas of realism and liberalism are but fragments of republican security theory, whose primary claim is that security entails the simultaneous avoidance of the extremes of anarchy and hierarchy, and that the size of the space within which this is necessary has expanded due to technological change.


In Daniel Deudney's reading, there is one main security tradition and its fragmentary descendants. This theory began in classical antiquity, and its pivotal early modern and Enlightenment culmination was the founding of the United States. Moving into the industrial and nuclear eras, this line of thinking becomes the basis for the claim that mutually restraining world government is now necessary for security and that political liberty cannot survive without new types of global unions.


Unique in scope, depth, and timeliness, Bounding Power offers an international political theory for our fractious and perilous global village.

Genres: International Relations, History

416 pages, Hardcover

First published December 4, 2006

Reviews

[Alexandros Potapidis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a comprehensive work on Republican Security Theory where Deudney outlines how technology and geography determine the structure of the political system. He moves beyond anarchy and hierarchy (describing both in negative terms) to negarchy, a state where nations are self-restrained. A central theme in his narrative is violence-interdependence and how technology has shrank the space and time. As proponent of Republicanism and Federal unions it is very surprising how little space he dedicates to European Union project and focuses on the US instead,among other examples. This is a work I highly recommend for anyone interested in security theory.

[Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

So outstanding. Anyone with any interest in political theory / international relations should read this. Longer review after I finish it.

[!Tæmbuŝu]

KOBOBOOKS

[Randy]

Dan was a chum when we were boys. This book of his is celebrated in political science circles as a masterwork.

Looking forward to receiving it and diving in.

[Pola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fresh take and merging of Republican political theory to the realm of the international. Original arguments but takes a historical view. The most contemporary theme is nuclear weapons.