Philosophy and Ideas: Pathways to Peace?

There are different ways of looking at the state ofTrade Center and the Pentagon. In the classic
the world. Accordingly when it comes to internationalidealist-realist debate, neither side normally accords
affairs, leaders propose differing foreign policies tothe other much space. In his new analysis, however,
make and preserve peace for their nations. The twoKissinger notes that "in relations between the United
most common approach of ideas are idealism andStates and Western Europe and within the Western
realism, and their offspring, neoliberalism andHemisphere, America's historic ideals have
neorealism, are illustrated by two former Harvardconsiderable applicability. Here the idealist version of
professors and leaders in U.S. government, Henrypeace based on democracy and economic progress
Kissinger and Robert McNamara. As secretary ofdemonstrates its relevance." He also notes that the
defense in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations,current complexity of the international system
McNamara was in the forefront of America's"renders much of the traditional American debate
involvement in Vietnam. By 1966, however, he wasabout the nature of international politics somewhat
beginning to question America's role, and in his laterirrelevant. Whether it is values or power, ideology or
years he has repudiated the support he gave to theraison d'état that are the key determinants of
war effort, believing that the disastrous conflictforeign policy, in fact depends on the historical stage
escalated largely as the result of misperception onin which the international system finds itself." THE
both sides. In other words, in his opinion, AmericaCENTRAL ISSUE At the root of the idealist-realist
need not have intervened in the way that she did. Ifdebate is a truth that never goes away and that
he could turn back the clock, he would seek peaceneither side ignores--they just approach it from
on different terms. He would not make the costlydifferent perspectives: Human nature is the fly in the
commitment to bloodshed that occurred on all sides.ointment. Realists hold an essentially pessimistic view
He would find the opening to promote a moralof human nature. Idealists share a belief in its
commitment to end the war quickly. Todayessential goodness. Henry Kissinger would say that's
McNamara, having been president of the World Bankexactly why idealistic notions of peace through
in the interim, is devoted to the cause of reducingmorality will fail. You just can't expect humans, and
the risk of conflict, killing and catastrophe in the 21sttherefore the nations they represent, to be anything
century. His new book, coauthored with internationalbut self-interested. The idealist Robert McNamara
relations professor James Blight, is titled Wilson'swould say that without imposing a moral curb on
Ghost in reference to the prescriptions for peace ofhuman nature we will see more people killed in the
America's First World War president. Woodrow21st century than in the overwhelmingly violent 20th,
Wilson was an idealist who believed that moral issueswhen multiple millions died in war, most of them
should dominate in policy making. Essentially it wascivilians. So we must pursue prescriptions for peace
the president's efforts at peacemaking that providedbased on the morality of avoiding such catastrophic
the way out for Germany in a peace without victory.wars. If human nature is the problem, how to deal
Wilson's subsequent tireless work aimed atwith it is the issue. The history of society's attempts
establishing the League of Nations inspires McNamarato do so does not give much cause for hope. We
and Blight; in it they see the only way ahead to amust admit that no method of taming human nature
peaceful future for a planet still living in the nuclearhas yet been found. According to one source, in the
shadow. Like Blight, Kissinger also has a background inpast 6,000 years humanity has experienced only 300
political science. In the 1960s he was a professor ofyears of global peace. Albert Einstein famously said
government at Harvard. Best known for his years asthat it is easier to denature plutonium than to change
Richard Nixon's assistant for National Security Affairshuman nature. Could it be that we are seeking an
and subsequently as secretary of state, he wasanswer that cannot come from the human level? Can
inevitably also embroiled in the Vietnam War. At firsthuman nature be curbed from our own resources?
a hard-liner in the prosecution of the war, he wentWhat exactly is human nature, and what is its origin?
on to win the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize along withTHE TRUTH ABOUT US In religion and the Bible, a
North Vietnamese negotiator Le Duc Tho (whorelevant question can be answered from the New
refused the award) in recognition of the cease-fireTestament: "Do you know where your fights and
agreement they reached. Nevertheless, Kissinger is aarguments come from?" The answer in the apostle
realist in the tradition of another U.S. president,James's words: "They come from the selfish desires
Theodore Roosevelt (see "Mentors of Modern Men").that war within you. You want things, but you do not
PRAGMATICS AND PRINCIPLES In their efforts tohave them. So you are ready to kill and are jealous
ensure security for all society, realists pursue policyof other people, but you still cannot get what you
options based on the ebb and flow of power withinwant. So you argue and fight" (James 4:1-2, New
the international system of nations. In his new book,Century Version). Here human nature is shown to be
Does America Need a Foreign Policy? Kissinger saysessentially selfish. Though it is sometimes able to do
it's vitally important that, as the only superpower,good for unrelated others, it is identified with the
America decide on its interests and also on where itprotection, preservation and extension of the self
should and should not intervene. This is an approachand its immediate world. Whatever is needed to
driven by pragmatics first and foremost. Foraccomplish these ends motivates humans from
Kissinger, it's not so much a question of universalinfancy on. We might say that at birth human beings
moral and ethical principles; it is primarily a question ofare in a neutral condition, demonstrating neither good
taking care of America's national interests in a worldnor evil desires. While the newborn feebly seeks out
compromised by human nature's inherent pursuit offood to survive, and has some drive to do so, it is
power. Idealism, on the other hand, believes thatill-equipped to challenge anyone for that food or to
mutual interest creates a natural harmony betweenshare it. The aggressive and possessive impulse
nations. Its proponents support the development ofcomes with time. A growing selfishness develops as
international structures and organizations to limit anywe mature. Through socialization we may learn to
nation-state's irresponsible quest for power. Incontrol this selfishness, but it almost always
neoliberal fashion, the idealist McNamara adds that thereappears, given certain circumstances. The Western
world is more interdependent than the old Europeanworld has had the benefit of the Judeo-Christian
world of independent nation-states. Modern idealiststradition, which teaches what human nature is and
point to the Internet, the mass media, the sharedhow it can be changed. Jesus of Nazareth had this to
environment, and globalized trade and investment assay about our basic state of mind: "From within, out
evidence of a different and more integrated world--aof the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts,
world anxious to promote peace by nonmilitaryadulteries, fornications, murders, thefts,
means. The power politician acknowledges thesecovetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil
contemporary realities but does not believe they areeye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things
the fundamental keys to peace. For the idealist, oncome from within and defile a man" (Mark 7:21-23).
the other hand, it's not just about national interestFrom this biblical perspective, the achievable ideal is
and "power-balancing" between nations. McNamarathat nations put down their weapons of war while at
points to the ability of nations to cooperate at timesthe same time learning new ways of thinking. This
for their mutual benefit. This, he believes, proves thatprescription for peace is found in another prophetic
peace can be achieved without war. Only as a lastpassage from the book of Isaiah--words that are
resort does the idealist use force, and even then, incarved into the base of the familiar statue outside
most cases, it is by multilateral agreement in thethe UN building in New York: "He shall judge between
international sphere. CAUSES FOR CONCERNthe nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat
McNamara's fears of the future arise from thetheir swords into plowshares, and their spears into
catastrophic loss of life that occurred in the centurypruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against
just past. Wilson's Ghost calls up the specter of thenation, neither shall they learn war anymore" (Isaiah
moralist president in the role of prophet. Following the2:4). It is a confirmation of the philosophy and ideas
war in 1919, Wilson said: "Liberalism must be moreof Woodrow Wilson that the successor to his
liberal than ever before, it must even be radical, ifLeague of Nations accepted the gift of a statue with
civilization is to escape the typhoon. . . . I do notthe biblical prescription for peace. It is an ideal that
hesitate to say that the war we have just beenrecognizes the realist's fears and puts them to rest.
through, though it was shot through with terror ofTRANSFORM OR CONFORM The only way through
every kind, is not to be compared with the war wethe impasse created by human nature is by means
would have to face the next time." Wilson's wordsof a change of heart. The change of heart religion
were eerily prescient. The succeeding 1939-45 worldand the Bible specifies is a fundamental
conflict and its atomic conclusion massively eclipsedtransformation of mind and attitude set in motion by
the First World War, unfathomable as it was in itsan outside source. Previous to his change of heart,
carnage. The international wars that followed onlythe apostle Paul was by his own admission "a
served to demonstrate the apparently uncontrollableblasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man" (1
human capacity for technological development inTimothy 1:13, New International Version). He came to
delivering death. The threat of nuclear holocaustsee that even with religious zeal as his motivation, he
looms large in McNamara's 21st-century scenario.was of the wrong spirit. It is with the deepest
Accordingly he believes that two imperatives, moralconviction that he writes, "To be carnally minded is
and multilateral, must guide U.S. foreign and defensedeath, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace"
policy in this century. The moral imperative requires(Romans 8:6). That spiritual mind, he says, comes
that the U.S. government establish as a major goal ofonly from the influence of God at work in humans
foreign policy "the avoidance in this century of thethrough His Holy Spirit. It is made available in part for
carnage--160 million dead--caused by conflict in thethe conquering of human nature's downward pull. He
20th century." The corresponding multilateralencourages us: "Be transformed by the renewing of
imperative requires that the United States recognizeyour mind, that you may prove what is that good
that it "must provide leadership to achieve theand acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans
objective of reduced carnage but, in doing so, it will12:2). That renewal comes only from the Spirit of
not apply its economic, political, or military powerGod. Are these philosophy and ideas of idealism and
unilaterally, other than in the unlikely circumstances ofrealism the pathway to peace? In fact, neither is.
a defense of the continental United States, Hawaii,Peace will become the way of the nations only when
and Alaska." Further, he believes that foreign policiesIsaiah's prophecy of the cessation of weapons
across the globe should adopt the same moralmanufacture and of war itself comes to pass. In the
imperative, as is currently the case in the aftermathmeantime, lasting peace can come individually from
of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the Worldwithin when the Spirit of God is active within.