Politics Recovered: Realist Thought in Theory and Practice

Is political theory political enough? Or does a tendency toward abstraction, idealization, moralism, and utopianism leave contemporary political theory out of touch with real politics as it actually takes place, and hence unable to speak meaningfully to or about our world? In recent years, political theory has seen a revival of interest in realism as an approach to thinking about politics. Realism seeks to avoid such pitfalls by remaining focused on politics itself, giving greater emphasis to the realities and distinctiveness of politics and the ways they ought to shape how we think and act in the political realm.

Politics Recovered brings together prominent scholars to develop the idea of what it might mean to theorize politics “realistically.” The volume contributes to philosophical debates such as the relationship between politics and morality and the role that facts and emotions should play in the theorization of political values. It addresses how a realist approach aids our understanding of pressing issues such as global justice, inequality, poverty, political corruption, the value of democracy, governmental secrecy, and demands for transparency. And several chapters open up fruitful dialogues with other varieties of realist approaches, from feminist theory, democratic theory, and international relations.By exploring the nature, distinctiveness, and prospects of realist thought, Politics Recovered shows how political theory can affirm reality in order to provide meaningful and compelling answers to the fundamental questions of political life.