The Prodigal Discipline: (Re)Connecting International Relations to Its Theological Roots

Abstract

This article explores the connection between theological ideas and the realist school in international relations (IR), arguing that realism is indebted to theological thinking in its origins and application. Drawing on the tradition of Christian realism, it shows how core theological concepts have shaped classical realism and neorealism, though often in secularized forms. This process of secularization, however, has also led to the impoverishment of these IR theories. Using Reinhold Niebuhr’s concept of irony as a case in point, the article suggests that alternative forms of secularization remain possible—ones that retain theological depth without requiring confessional commitments. The article illustrates these theoretical insights by historically examining the role of theological ideas in concrete political developments, such as the onset of the Cold War and the early postwar European security situation. It concludes by arguing for renewed theological engagement given the continued and pervasive presence of religion in global politics.