Edmund Burke and international relations

by Welsh, Jennifer M

The mind of Edmund Burke has attracted the attention of countless political theorists, historians and biographers. Yet, one aspect of Burke's thinking has so far been neglected: his perspective on international relations. This book addresses that gap by analysing Burke's reaction to the major international events of his time. The book argues that the apparent tension between Burke's constitutionalism and crusading is ultimately reconciled by his broader conception of international order and legitimacy. It is only by widening the definition of international theory to include domestic as well as international politics that one can resolve the tension in Burke's theory and arrive at a richer understanding of the nature of international order, both historically and today.