This book argues that Michael Oakeshott's political philosophy contributes to current debates in normative international theory and international political theory on the historical, social, and moral dimension of international society. Davide Orsi contends that the theory of civil association may be the ground for an understanding of international society as a rule-based form of moral association constituted by customary international law. The book also considers the role of evolving practices of morality in debates on international justice. Orsi grounds this work on a study of Oakeshott's philosophical arguments and compares the Oakeshottian perspective to recent constructivist literature in International Relations.
"His work will prove invaluable to teachers and students alike, providing as it does a fresh and invigorating source of scholarly argument, of real value to theorists and practitioners alike." (J. E. Spence, International Affairs, Vol. 95 (1), January, 2019)
"This well-written, widely researched, and mostly well-argued book traces the international implications of the political philosophy of the 20th century English thinker Michael Oakeshott, in particular his distinction between two ideal types of association-civil or moral versus instrumental, or 'enterprise.' ... Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty." (W. J. Coats, Choice, Vol. 54 (9), May, 2017)
Translated from Italian:
"Orsi's book offers a rich and articulated vision of Oakeshott's political philosophy and its philosophical fundaments - starting from idealism to Hobbes and Montaigne - combined with the recent debate on the nature and handling of international relations. Thebook's mix of concrete arguments and theoretical groundwork enables readers to fully grasp the originality of Oakenshott's thought along with its present-day value." (Paola Mastrantonio, Bollettino della Società Filosofica Italiana,(221), May-August 2017)
"This well-written, widely researched, and mostly well-argued book traces the international implications of the political philosophy of the 20th century English thinker Michael Oakeshott, in particular his distinction between two ideal types of association-civil or moral versus instrumental, or 'enterprise.' ... Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty." (W. J. Coats, Choice, Vol. 54 (9), May, 2017)
Translated from Italian:
"Orsi's book offers a rich and articulated vision of Oakeshott's political philosophy and its philosophical fundaments - starting from idealism to Hobbes and Montaigne - combined with the recent debate on the nature and handling of international relations. Thebook's mix of concrete arguments and theoretical groundwork enables readers to fully grasp the originality of Oakenshott's thought along with its present-day value." (Paola Mastrantonio, Bollettino della Società Filosofica Italiana,(221), May-August 2017)