Cosmopolitanism and International Relations Theory

Richard Beardsworth is professor of political philosophy and international relations at the American University of Paris.

"A must-read for anyone interested in understanding how both cosmopolitanism and postmodern IR can offer insightful political advice to Realism without either falling back on a programmatic ethics or becoming complicit in oppression for the sake of unconditional singularity."Millennium "An essential reader for students of international relations theory and those seeking a foundational text to cosmopolitanism with clear depictions of the linkage and responses to its critics."Central European Journal of International and Security Studies "The author's tolerantly critical and systematic approach allows him to meet each critical debate with an especiallywell-tailored and zealously argued cosmopolian response, which is bound to appeal to scholars of law and politics."Political Studies Review "Beardsworth interrogates contemporary cosmopolitanism with the traditions of international relations theory most critical of it. The sophisticated cosmopolitan liberalism he unfolds in response is resourceful, often surprising, and wise."Leif Wenar, King's College London"Cosmopolitanism is now a central framework for thinking about questions of international relations and global politics. In this superb book, Richard Beardsworth draws together themes from cosmopolitan thinking and rival traditions of international thought to produce a fascinating synthesis that shows a way forward for cosmopolitan insights that neither ignores nor denies the difficulties and problems international relations displays. An important and original argument which all those interested in international political theory should read."Nicholas Rengger, St Andrews University"Cosmopolitanism and International Relations Theory is an incisive contribution to international political theory. Philosophically wide-ranging, analytically rigorous and politically engaged, this important book both challenges and enriches contemporary debates, while providing new directions for theory and recommendations for practice. As an impressive tour d'horizon, and a significant philosophic contribution, this is a book that cosmopolitans, their critics and international political theorists of all kinds will find essential reading and ground for engagement."Michael C. Williams, École supérieure d'affaires publiques et internationales

• Acknowledgements viiiIntroduction 11 The Spectrum of Cosmopolitanism 161 The Historical Background to the Cosmopolitan Disposition 172 The Cosmopolitan Spectrum 212.1 Cultural cosmopolitanism 212.2 Moral cosmopolitanism 232.3 Normative cosmopolitanism 292.4 Institutional cosmopolitanism 342.5 Legal cosmopolitanism 362.6 Political cosmopolitanism 403 Conclusion 462 The Realist Critique of Cosmopolitanism 481 The Major Tenets of Realism 492 Critique of Cosmopolitanism 562.1 The Realist approach to international law 562.2 Cosmopolitan ‘domination’ 632.3 Humanitarian intervention and political moralism 662.4 Towards a prudent politics of limits 703 Conclusion 733 A Cosmopolitan Response to Realism 751 The Status of the Normative in Conditions of Interdependence 762 Power, Interest and Legitimacy: A Cosmopolitan Perspective 813 Category Errors: Domestic Analogy, ‘Legalistic-Moralistic’ Fallacy and Anarchy 904 Humanitarian Intervention: Towards a Cosmopolitan Realism 975 From the Principle of Sovereignty to the Principle of Subsidiarity 1046 Conclusion 1084 The Marxist Critique of Cosmopolitanism 1111 The Major Tenets of Marxism 1142 From Embedded Liberalism to Neo-liberalism 1223 The Marxist Critique of Cosmopolitanism 1283.1 Cosmopolitan lack of economic analysis and complicity with global liberal governance 1303.2 Deep reasons for global inequality: beyond cosmopolitan surface 1343.3 The cosmopolitan substitution of ethics for politics 1373.4 Nation-state particularity contra cosmopolitan universality: the Marxist response to globalization 1384 Conclusion 1395 A Cosmopolitan Response to Marxism 1411 Cosmopolitan Reformism 1441.1 Cosmopolitanism and the capitalist system 1441.2 Cosmopolitan refl ection on the market and regulation 1462 'Global Social Democracy': What Can This Concept Mean? Re-embedded Liberalism 1533 The Cosmopolitan Logic of Re-embedded Liberalism 1594 Global Energy Futures: Economic Dilemma and State Leadership 1625 Conclusion 1696 The Postmodern Critique of Cosmopolitanism 1721 Postmodernism, Modernity and IR 1732 Foucault and Agamben: The Biopolitical Fate of Liberal Governmentality 1763 The Illiberal Practices of Global Liberal Governance 1823.1 The politics of security 1823.2 The liberal way of war 1833.3 Depoliticization of the victim 1874 Jacques Derrida: Law, Democracy-to-come and Ethico-political Responsibility 1895 Conclusion 1977 A Cosmopolitan Response to Postmodernism 1991 The Logic of Liberal Law I: What Is Liberal Law? 2002 The Logic of Liberal Law II: Cosmopolitan Response to Postmodern Refl ection on Law 2043 A Politics of the Lesser Violence: Cosmopolitan Response to Illiberal Liberalism 2104 Political Judgement and Risk: A Cosmopolitan Response to Derrida and his IR Legacy 2185 Conclusion 224Conclusion: Idealism and Realism Today 227Notes 238References 244Index 264