Introduction: The Problems of Pessimism

Abstract

This introductory chapter enquires after the function of pessimism in International Relations (IR). Is it an intellectual constraint on the discipline, or a resource from which to draw sustenance and imaginative solutions to world problems? How should we approach the contemporary mood of pessimism in world affairs, a situation for which IR may perhaps share some responsibility? The chapter discusses the intellectual problem of pessimism and sets out the structure of the book. The first part looks at diverse pessimisms in historical and conceptual context, from the ancient world to the present day. The second part explores pessimisms circulating within contemporary international relations. By exploring the varieties of pessimism, we seek to open up space for further genealogies and archaeologies of the pessimistic zeitgeist that orientates our age.