Beyond national interest: role of ethics and emotions in world politics
This article critiques the dominance of Realist theory in International Relations, arguing that the discipline's focus on national interest often overlooks the role of ethics and emotions in global politics. It highlights how Western-centric academic traditions have shaped the current geopolitical discourse, limiting the perspectives of the Global South.
Why it matters
Understanding the limitations of traditional power-based diplomacy is essential for addressing modern geopolitical crises that are increasingly driven by moral and emotional factors rather than just strategic interests.
The language of world politics has become remarkably predictable. Every military strike, diplomatic initiative, economic sanction, or strategic partnership is justified in the name of national interest. Television debates and commentaries have a common vocabulary — power, deterrence, balance of power, strategic autonomy, and security. It almost appears as though International Relations has become an emotionless discipline, focused on power concentration, where morality and ethics have little place. Yet the defining geopolitical crises of recent years tell a very different story.
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