Hans J. Morgenthau was from Germany. Knowing the condition of Germany during the time of Hitler, he concluded that – the governing can do what they wish.
In 1948, he wrote a book, ‘Politics among Nations: The Struggle for Power and Peace’
1.POLITICS IS GOVERNED BY OBJECTIVE LAWS, INHERITED IN HUMAN NATURE
Human is always wants to control others and destroy their enemies.
To understand IR one must understand the human nature.
e.g., UNO was made after the 2nd world war for the peace in the world order.
A/c to morgenthau the international organistaions are made because everyone wants to survive and it was realised after the 2nd world war that all will be die if the third war will occur so the human by nature wants to live so the organisation to establisg peace is established.
2.National Interest defined in terms of National Power:
This principle holds that nations always define and act for securing their national interests by means of power.
National Interest is always secured by the use of National Power. Each nation conceptualizes its national interests in terms of power and then acts to secure these by means of power.
3. Interest is always Dynamic:
The policies and actions of a nation are always governed by national interest.
the content of national interest is always changing in nature and scope.
It changes with changes in political and social environment.
4. Abstract Moral Principles cannot be applied to Politics:
Political realism realizes the importance of moral principles but holds that in their abstract and universal formulations these cannot be applied to state actions.
Moral principles do not determine policies and actions of states. These are simply a source of some influence.
5. Difference between Moral Aspirations of a Nation and the Universal Moral Principles:
Each nation tries to cover its national interests under the cloak of several moral principles. An identification of national policies as the true manifestations of moral principles is bound to be misleading and politically pernicious. The US anti-terror policy is governed by its own national interest and not really based on the concept of making the world safe for freedom and democracy.
6. Autonomy of International Politics
Morgenthau Political Realism accepts the autonomy of International Politics as a discipline.