International Ethics

Through case studies and careful arguments, this book shows that moral values are an essential element of foreign policy and that ethical analysis is indispensable to the study of international relations. Mark Amstutz explores two distinct dimensions of international political morality: the role of moral norms in foreign affairs and the ethical foundation of the rules, institutions, and structures of global society. Amstutz illustrates the role of moral norms in global politics through twenty-six case studies, assessing the nature, role, and impact of political morality on international relations. The cases address six major global issues: migration, human rights, war, irregular war, foreign intervention, and international economic relations. The book’s third section examines justice among states and the challenge of pursuing global justice.