International Ethics: Concepts, Theories, and Cases in Global Politics

by Mark R. Amstutz

Now in a comprehensively revised and updated edition, International Ethics cogently demonstrates that moral values and ethical reasoning are indispensable in global politics. Through balanced arguments and a wide-ranging selection of case studies, Mark R. Amstutz convincingly demonstrates that moral norms are an essential element of foreign policy and that ethical analysis is central to the study of international relations. Amstutz illustrates the role of moral norms in global politics with twenty-five revised and new case studies. The cases are focused on eight major global issues: political reconciliation, human rights, war, irregular war, foreign intervention, economic sanctions, justice among states, and global justice. This clearly written study will be of special interest to students and practitioners of international affairs who are concerned with the role of political morality and ethical judgment in global affairs.

Genres: Philosophy, Politics, History, International Relations, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 1999

Reviews

[iniya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for a class and I thought it was a very solid way to learn about international ethics. The case studies included along with each topic were incredibly helpful, both in understanding ethics through real-world situations but also in becoming more politically aware. Most of the book is framed through the lens of communitarianism and cosmopolitanism, and we explore the tug of war between the two perspectives. I deeply enjoyed seeing where my views stood on that spectrum - it allowed me to examine my personal values in a surprising way.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for a graduate program at Georgetown. The author covers a wide range of foreign policy topics and provides frameworks to evaluate them from various ethics lenses. I appreciated his application of Just War theory to smart sanctions, blunt force economic sanctions, and military interventions in the name of humanitarian aid and to prevent genocide. I also appreciated his chapters on how to think about caring for the environment and fundamental human rights.

[Cara Lynn]

Read for school

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it for graduate school and so far is the only grad school book I have read cover-to-cover. Great book for discussing the ethics of actions made in international politics. Who is right and who is not? Why? He uses many case studies to make his points.