Summary Of Utopianism And Realism By E. H. Carr

The twenty years that E.H. Carr focuses this piece of work on is the interwar period of 1919-1939. During this period, Carr seeks to establish that the development of international relations had transgressed toward a moral idealism that would lead to a second world war. Carr compiles this assertion in his criticism of the breakdown of the utopian conception of morality. The transformation of world politics has encouraged the formations of new linkages between the study of change in international relations and the normative consideration of alternative principles of world politics. The author’s objective, he states, “is to analyze the profounder causes of the contemporary international crisis.” Carr defined political science as, “the science …show more content…
reality. This central theme, which runs through his entire work, can be described as the clash between utopianism and realism. He goes on to explain that utopia and reality are irreconcilable. He says, “Here, then, is the complexity, the fascination and the tragedy of all political life. Politics are made up of two elements - utopia and reality - belonging to two different planes which can never meet. 15” Utopians “pay little attention to existing ‘facts’ or to the analysis of cause and effect, but will devote themselves wholeheartedly to the elaboration of visionary projects for the attainment of the ends they have in view – projects whose simplicity and perfection gives them an easy and universal appeal” (Carr, 5). Utopians are described as individuals who believe that their moral ideals are more important than political observation and experimentation. The author identifies utopianism with the struggles in international relations that would be categorized as being more intellectual, referencing this label to those with “the inclination to ignore what was and what is in contemplation of what should be.” (Carr, 11) Carr argues that the utopian only focuses on purpose as being the only significant fact. Whereas, the realist disregards any prior forms of political theory. The realist believes theory is insignificant. They also view the facts advocated by the utopian as something to aspire to because they are very different than the reality, for instance, all men are created equal. The realist often becomes rooted in determinism in insisting all human aspiration and will is mechanical. Therefore, Carr argues that both the utopian and the realist must find a happy middle in order to sustain a workable international