Michael Oakeshott's Political Philosophy of International Relations

"Oakeshott held that the most important question of civil order is not its constitutional shape but rather its character and purpose. This question is also important for international order, as Davide Orsi shows in this well-crafted study. Reading Oakeshott's theory of civil association in relation to English School theories of international relations, Orsi persuasively locates the normative foundations of international order in the practices of international society." (Professor Terry Nardin, Yale-NUS College, Singapore) "Dr Orsi has added a new and important dimension to international political theory by engaging in a systematic analysis of the implications of Michael Oakeshott's thought for our understanding of international relations, and the alternative theories that currently hold centre stage, such as constructivism." (Professor David Boucher, Cardiff University, UK)

This book argues that Michael Oakeshott’s political philosophy contributes to current debates in normative international theory and international political theory on the historical, social, and moral dimension of international society.

This book argues that Michael Oakeshott’s political philosophy contributes to current debates in normative international theory and international political theory on the historical, social, and moral dimension of international society. Davide Orsi contends that the theory of civil association may be the ground for an understanding of international society as a rule-based form of moral association constituted by customary international law. The book also considers the role of evolving practices of morality in debates on international justice. Orsi grounds this work on a study of Oakeshott’s philosophical arguments and compares the Oakeshottian perspective to recent constructivist literature in International Relations.