The Conflict Between Power and Morality in International Relations
The Conflict Between Power and Morality in International Relations

Summary/Abstract: Unlike the 20th century which was characterized by great international violence, many political analysts seem to believe that in the 21st century ―eternal peace‖1 between the great powers is, finally, on its way to being established. What bonds these thinkers is the common belief that the post-Cold War world seems to be more stable, more right, more peaceful than any previous age in the history of humanity and the policy between nations promises a radical transformation which would offer a more co-operant and transnational appearance. The problems of the modern world aren`t local anymore, but global, they don`t just concern the petty disputes with the neighbours and the damages brought to them, but they concern forces which in their huge range of action, affect millions of people from all the parts of the world. On the other hand the high levels of economic interrelations should diminish the probability that the states would go to war with each other. In these conditions it is obvious that the international scene would have more to gain if the relations between states would be based on rules and regulations and not on the arbitrary will or unlimited freedom, and if international policy would be governed by the force of right (international right regulations) not the right of force (the force of the strongest). The final aim must be the finding of a way of peaceful cooperation, not the domination (or even annihilation) of some agents by others. All these conceptions are based on the idea of international morality. The question that derives from here is if and how the conflict between power and morality can be reduced in order that humanity can enjoy a longer peace. The present study tries to offer an answer starting from the two distinctive idea movements, idealism and realism.

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