Abstract: Wight saw the philosophy of International Politics—his ‘International Theory’—as the interaction and interweaving of three traditions—Realism, Rationalism, and Revolutionism. Here, he takes the archetypal thinkers of these traditions—Machiavelli, Grotius, and Kant—to whom he adds Mazzini, the father of all revolutionary nationalism, and subjects their writings and careers to a masterly analysis and commentary. Wight thus not only throws further light upon his magisterial earlier study, International Theory: The Three Traditions, but explores the thought of four key figures in the history of Western philosophy. In useful appendices he places these figures in a ‘philosophical genealogy’ of political theorists and practitioners, shows Christian thought in terms of these traditions, and indicates where to find in De Jure Belli ac Pacis what Grotius had to say on a variety of issues. Throughout, Wight is sensitive to the moral subtleties and dilemmas to be found in International Relations, a dimension he considered of supreme importance. Both the Foreword by Sir Michael Howard, and the Introduction by Professor David Yost, stress the value and uniqueness of Wight’s approach. The work concludes with a lecture in which the author, in considering the nature of international society, summarized his leading ideas.

Keywords: International Relations, International Theory, law, morality, politics, rationalism, realism, revolutionism, society, traditions