Hobbes and Grotius about war and violence in international relations Cover Image

Hobbes i Grocjusz o wojnie i przemocy w stosunkach międzynarodowych
Hobbes and Grotius about war and violence in international relations

Author(s): Rafał Wonicki
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Political Sciences, International relations/trade, Military policy
Published by: Instytut Studiów Politycznych PAN
Keywords: Hobbes; Grotius; war; violence; international relations; conflict; cooperation; collaboration

Summary/Abstract: This article compares two philosophical traditions and their attitudes to war and violence within the context of international relations. The first refers to Hobbes’ political realism, the second to the Grotian idea of international community. Each of these traditions understands the role of violence and war at an international level differently. From the perspective of political realism, violence is part of anarchistic relations between states and a means for achieving their goals. From the perspective of international community, violence is a factor that needs to be minimized via the mechanisms of peaceful international cooperation between states. Based on the analysis of these two approaches, it is claimed that the Hobbesian perspective can be partly included in the perspective of the English School, which is based on the Grotian tradition.

  • Issue Year: 2015
  • Issue No: 17
  • Page Range: 79-96
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Polish