In this roundtable we will discuss the recently published The Civil Condition in World Politics: Beyond Tragedy and Utopianism edited by Vassilios Paipais. After initial comments by book contributors Vassilios Paipais (editor), Anthony Lang (chapter author) and Sophia Dingli (chapter author), Gideon Baker and Rory Cox will offer their reflections on the book. Q&A will follow.
From the book’s description: “Bringing together an international team of contributors, this volume draws on international political theory and intellectual history to rethink the problem of a pluralistic world order. Inspired by the work of international political theorist Nicholas Rengger, the book focuses on three main areas of Rengger’s contribution to the political theory of international relations: his Augustine-inspired idea of an ‘Anti-Pelagian Imagination’; his Oakeshottian argument for a pluralist ‘conversation of mankind’; and his ruminations on war as the uncivil condition in world politics. Through a critical engagement with his work, the book illuminates the promises and limitations of civility as a sceptical, non-utopian, anti-perfectionist approach to theorizing world order that transcends both realist pessimism and liberal utopianism.”
This event will be hybrid, with roundtable participants present in-person and audience members joining both in-person and virtually. The event is jointly organised and sponsored by CRIPT and the School of International Relations at the University of St Andrews.
Zoom registration will close two hours before the event begins.