This book reassesses the contribution to international thought of some of the most important thinkers of the inter-war period. It takes as its starting point E. H. Carr's famous critique which, more than any other work, established the reputation of the period as the 'utopian' or 'idealist' phase of international relations theorizing. This characterization of inter-war thought is scrutinized through ten detailed studies of such writers as Norman Angell, J. A. Hobson, J. M. Keynes, David Mitrany, and Alfred Zimmern. The studies demonstrate the diversity of perspectives within 'idealism' and call into question the descriptive and analytical value of the entire notion. It is concluded that 'idealism' is an overly general term, useful for scoring debating points rather than providing a helpful category for analysis.

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David Long is at Carleton University. Peter Colin Wilson is at London School of Economics.

'Its ten essays on individual thinkers are all of value ... This distinguished collection of essays deserves to be widely read.' Contemporary Security Policy

'David Long and Peter Wilson have brought together a strong team of scholars ... What emerges from this work is the extent of the diversity of thought amongst inter-war IR thinkers ... David Long is able to conclude that the realist-idealist dichotomy fails to do justice to the richness of ideas presented in this book.' International Insights