Hobbes and International Relations: Leviathan Between Realism and Rationalism

Year 2024, Volume: 16 Issue: 30, 99 - 120, 30.05.2024

Yasin Avcı

https://doi.org/10.20990/kilisiibfakademik.1435503

Abstract

Abstract
Purpose: In this study, the theoretical positioning of Hobbes, one of the important figures of modern political philosophy, in International Relations (IR) is examined.
Design/Methodology: In the study, Hobbes’ political philosophy was examined in the context of the socio-political conditions in which it emerged, and thus, an attempt was made to prevent the absolutization of his assumptions. In addition to Hobbes’ work titled Leviathan, which is the most emphasized by IR, his work titled Behemoth was also examined, and in this way, his political philosophy was discussed in a holistic rather than eclectic way.
Findings: The conclusion reached in the study is that the political philosophy put forward by Hobbes is not only related to realism in terms of IR theories, but also includes rationalism at times. However, the harmony between Hobbes’s political philosophy and IR practice continues to a large extent, especially in the 21st century.
Limitations: The place of Hobbes’s political philosophy in terms of IR theories has been examined in terms of Martin Wight’s distinction between traditional IR theories as realism, rationalism and revolutionism.
Originality/Value: Hobbes is generally associated with the realism tradition in IR. As a matter of fact, Hobbes’s malevolent perspective on human nature, his conflictual state of nature fiction, and his emphasis on security have led him to be considered one of the philosophical predecessors of realism in IR. Again, Hobbes is considered a liberal theorist in other social science fields due to the rational content of his state theory and the fact that he is a social contractarian. Considering this contradictory situation, the invalidity of confining any political philosopher to a certain theoretical category in the eyes of IR becomes apparent. Therefore, within the scope of the study, Hobbes was examined without being confined within any theoretical framework.

Keywords

Thomas Hobbes, International Relations, Political Philosophy, Realism, Rationalism

Thomas Hobbes ve Uluslararası İlişkiler: Realizm ile Rasyonalizm Arasındaki Leviathan

Abstract

Öz
Amaç: Bu çalışmada modern siyaset felsefesinin önemli figürlerinden olan Hobbes’un Uluslararası İlişkiler (Uİ) nezdindeki teorik konumlanması irdelenmiştir.
Tasarım/Yöntem: Çalışmada Hobbes’un siyaset felsefesi, ortaya çıktığı sosyo-politik şartlar bağlamında incelenmiş ve böylece varsayımlarının mutlaklaştırılmasının önüne geçilmeye çalışılmıştır. Bununla birlikte Hobbes’un Uİ nezdinde üzerinde en çok durulan Leviathan başlıklı çalışmasının yanı sıra Behemoth başlıklı çalışması da irdelenmiş ve bu yolla siyaset felsefesi eklektik değil bütüncül bir şekilde ele alınmıştır.
Bulgular: Çalışmada ulaşılan sonuç Hobbes’un ortaya koyduğu siyaset felsefesinin Uİ teorileri nezdinde yalnızca realizmle ilişkili olmadığı yer yer rasyonalizmi de içerdiğidir. Bununla birlikte Hobbes’un siyaset felsefesi ile Uİ pratiği arasındaki uyum 21. yüzyıl özelinde ve büyük ölçüde devam etmektedir.
Sınırlılıklar: Hobbes’un siyaset felsefesinin Uİ teorileri bakımından yeri, Martin Wight’ın realizm, rasyonalizm ve devrimcilik şeklindeki geleneksel Uİ teorileri ayrımı bakımından irdelenmiştir.

Özgünlük/Değer: Hobbes Uİ’de genellikle realizm geleneğiyle ilişkilendirilmektedir. Nitekim Hobbes’un insan doğasına yönelik kötücül bakış açısı, çatışmalı doğa durumu kurgusu ve güvenlik vurgusu Hobbes’un Uİ’de realizmin felsefi öncüllerinden sayılmasını beraberinde getirmiştir. Yine Hobbes ortaya koyduğu devlet teorisinin rasyonel içeriği ve bir toplumsal sözleşmeci olması sebebiyle diğer sosyal bilim alanlarında liberal bir teorisyen olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Bu çelişkili durum göz önüne alındığında herhangi bir siyaset felsefecisini Uİ nezdinde belirli bir teorik kategori içine peşinen hapsetmenin geçersizliği ortaya çıkmaktadır. Dolayısıyla çalışma kapsamında Hobbes herhangi bir teorik çerçeve içine hapsedilmeden incelenmiştir.

Keywords

Thomas Hobbes, Uluslararası İlişkiler, Siyaset Felsefesi, Realizm, Rasyonalizm

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