Political philosophy and the theory of international relations

The recently published lectures by Martin Wight (1913–72) on the history of Western thought regarding international politics are of exceptional importance. As David Yost points out, the lectures answer a number of questions about what Wight meant by ‘traditions’ and what his own position was with regard to their validity. Wight's analysis and organizing framework capture and clarify a complex historical reality with greater justice and lucidity than many others that have been proposed. Moreover, the lectures place in perspective what has been the most indisputable criticism of Wight's approach—his ‘Eurocentrism’ and neglect of non-Western traditions—and illustrate opportunities for further research building on these foundations.⋆