Ethics As Foreign Policy

This book explores the complexities of ethical considerations in contemporary British and EU foreign policy, particularly in Ethics As Foreign Policy.

This book enhances the understanding of key moments in contemporary British and EU foreign policy through the lenses of subjectivity, responsibility, and hospitality. Ethics As Foreign Policy examines how these concepts can reshape our perceptions of international relations, challenging the notion that ethical foreign policy is merely an idealistic or dangerous proposition. Dan Bulley advocates for a new perspective on ethics, emphasizing the importance of how nations relate to one another in a globalized world.

Bulley draws inspiration from the deconstructive philosophy of Jacques Derrida, applying it to the ethical claims made by British (1997-2007) and EU (1999-2004) foreign policy. By critically analyzing speeches, statements, and interviews from policymakers, the author reveals the inherent contradictions within these ethical claims. The book illustrates how the responsibility to aid regions like Africa or protect Iraqis can simultaneously embody irresponsibility and unethicality, thus complicating the narrative of moral foreign policy.

Ultimately, Ethics As Foreign Policy posits that while achieving a fully ethical foreign policy may be unrealistic, it is essential not to abandon the pursuit of responsible relations with others. Bulley proposes that this negotiation of ethics in foreign policy opens up room for individual, context-specific decisions that remain subject to ongoing critique and discussion. The author maintains that the aspiration for ethical foreign policy should be viewed as a productive hope, existing between the realms of possibility and impossibility.