Document Type : Research Paper
Author
Abstract
Faculty member of the Research Institute of Strategic Studies
This article examines methodological bases of the idealist school. The author maintains that idealist explanations of national security observe methods mostly and originally considered by Emanuel Kant. As the influential founder of idealism, Kant offered a new perception of human duties, the nature and mission of the state and the possibility of peaceful conduct on the part of political actors. Such perception, in contrast to the realist viewpoints, suggests a new order. The author initially explains the main claims of idealism and notes that the major claims of idealism include the belief in the desirable role of the environment in determining human behavior, utmost importance of public conscience and judgment, the reason’s efficient leadership, the priority of ethical aspiration over rational thinking, perfectionism, possible and necessary coordination of national interests of the national units, and international rights-duties. What is considerable in these claims from a methodological perspective involves the acceptance of the capability of reason and ethics in evaluating behaviors. In today’s world, mere reliance on the possibility and necessity of moralism is unable to eradicate insecurity and to secure national interests. Perhaps for this reason, idealist criteria are largely taken into account in the stage of making slogans and claims, because this outlook has a very rudimentary approach to power and casts doubt on the achievements and capabilities of the modernity.
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