Politics Among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace is a political science book by Hans Morgenthau published in 1948. It is considered among the most influential works in international relations on classical realism.[1]
Trained as an international lawyer, the publication of the book culminates a transformation in Morgenthau's intellectual trajectory from focusing on legal theory to focusing on international politics.[2]
The book introduces the concept of political realism, presenting a realist view of power politics. This concept played a major role in the foreign policy of the United States, which made it exercise globe spanning power in the Cold War period. The concept also called for a reconciliation of power politics with the idealistic ethics of earlier American discussions about foreign policy.
John Mearsheimer describes it as among the three most influential realist works of international relations of the 20th century.[3]
It has been criticized for contradictions, ambiguity and vagueness.[1] For example, key concepts "national interest" and "balance of power" are not coherently defined.[1]