Book Review: Christian Reus-Smit, The Moral Purpose of the State: Culture, Social Identity and Institutional Rationality in International Relations (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1999, 199 pp., £21.95 hbk.)

1999 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 808-810
Author(s):  
Samuel M. Makinda
Keyword(s):  
Social Identity ◽  
International Relations ◽  
The State ◽  
Moral Purpose ◽  
State Culture ◽  
Princeton University ◽  
Institutional Rationality

The Moral Purpose of the State: Culture, Social Identity, and Institutional Rationality in International Relations. By Christian Reus-Smit. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1999. 199p. $35.00.

2001 ◽  
Vol 95 (1) ◽  
pp. 264-265
Author(s):  
Jennifer Sterling-Folker
Keyword(s):  
International Relations ◽  
International Law ◽  
Greek City ◽  
State Culture ◽  
Princeton University ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Italian City ◽  
City States ◽  
Institutional Rationality ◽  
Modern Nation State

The central puzzle motivating this book is why different systems of sovereign states develop different types of systemic institutions. Why did Greek city-states favor arbitration, whereas Italian city-states adopted what the author calls "oratorical diplomacy," the absolutist state preferred "old diplomacy" instead, and the modern nation-state relies on international law and multilateralism?

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document