Thinking about international ethics : moral theory and cases from American foreign policy

Abstract

* Acknowledgments * Introduction: Ethics, International Affairs, and American Foreign Policy * A Philosophical Map * Examining Cases Through Multiple Lenses * The Plan of this Book * Some Caveats * Notes * For Further Reading Part I: What Role for Ethics in Foreign Policy? * 1. Realism Versus Idealism in the Twentieth Century * Postwar Paradigm Shift or an Interwar Debate? * Order in an Anarchic World * Shades of Realism * Idealism in Exile * Normative Analysis Reemerges * The Study of International Ethics Since the Collapse of the Berlin Wall * Notes * For Further Reading * 2. A Closer Look at Realism in the Twentieth Century * Critique of Moralism, Not Morality * The Realist Moral Vision * Neorealism in the Late Twentieth Century * Notes * For Further Reading * 3. Realists, Idealists, and the Politics of Ratifying Chemical Arms Control Treaties in the United States, 1926-1997 * Failed Ratification I: 1926 * Ratifying the Geneva Protocol of 1925: 1969-1975 * The Battle for the Chemical Weapons Convention of 1993 * Notes * For Further Reading Part II: Ethics, Intentions, and Consequences in Making Foreign Policy * 4. The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945: Events and Moral Questions * Atomic Decision Making in World War II: A Summary * Of Events * Was the Atomic Bombing Necessary to End the War? * Notes * For Further Reading * 5. Consequentialism: Ends Justify the Means * Whose Ends? The State Versus the World * Utilitarianism: Cosmopolitan and Consequentialist * Notes * For Further Reading * 6. Consequentialist Evaluations of the U.S. Decision to Use Atomic Bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki * Judging the Decision: A Realist Perspective * The Decision to Use Atomic Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki: An Act Utilitarian Perspective * How Should an Act Utilitarian Have Made the Decision? * A Dangerous Precedent? * Notes * For Further Reading * 7. Deontological Approaches to International Ethics: Motives, Duties, Rules, and Means * Kant s Moral Theory * Natural Law and the Just War Tradition * Notes * For Further Reading * 8. The Hiroshima Decision and the Just War Tradition * Discrimination, Proportionality, and Double Effect: A Summary * Intended Targets: Groves and the Committees * The President s Position * Stimson: Kyoto, Hiroshima, and Noncombatant Immunity * Intentions of the United States? * Protecting Noncombatants or Innocents? * Notes * For Further Reading Part III: Human Rights, Cultural Relativism, and National Duties * 9. China, the United States, and Most Favored Nation Trade Status * Chinese Human Rights Policy in the 1990s * The Politics of MFN Trade Status in the United States * Notes * For Further Reading * 10. The Politics of Most Favored Nation Trade Status and the Basis of Rights * China and Cultural Relativism * The Basis of Human Rights: Disagreement at the Heart * Cultural Relativism and MFN Trade Status for China * Notes * For Further Reading * 11. Moral Theories and the Debate in the U.S. Government on Most Favored Nation Trade Status for China * Moral Theories and Human Rights Policy: A First Cut * Human Rights, International Duties, and Effective Action * The Presidents as Quasi Utilitarians * The Congressional Cauldron * MFN Trade Status for China: Moral Theories and Moral Arguments * Notes * For Further Reading * 12. Conclusion: Moral Theory as a Tool for Analyzing and Evaluating Foreign Policy * Analysis: What Role Do Moral Frameworks Play in Political Decision Making? * Advantages and Disadvantages of Realism as a Tool for Evaluating American Foreign Policy Decisions * Advantages and Disadvantages of Utilitarian Thinking as a Tool for Evaluating American Foreign Policy Decisions * Advantages and Disadvantages of Deontological Approaches as Tools for Evaluating American Foreign Policy Decisions * Index