ABSTRACT
Edmund Burke poses a great challenge to those who approach his genius. Burke's political thinking has remained relevant long after his contemporaries recognized him as one of the greatest politicians of his age. Although considerable attention has been focused on Burke, his views on international relations have not attracted substantial discussion. Burke's contemporaries recognized his penchant for infusing discussion of political issues with a search for and explanation of guiding principles. His mind was interested not merely in the cut and thrust of parliamentary politics; his thought, deeply versed in the circumstances and historical development of any issue, transcended the ephemera of current affairs. Although much promising territory awaits in Burke's commentary on international relations, the authors hope to avoid constraining his thought by the conventions of international relations study. The authors' approach would be sterile if they argued that Burke was definitively a realist, rationalist, or revolutionist.
