Martin Wight

1. Martin Wight 1913-1972

2. Occupations • 1935 – 1949: bookseller, schoolteacher, journalist • 1949 – 1961: Reader in the Department of International Relations at the London School of Economics (LSE) • 1962: Professor of History at the new University of Sussex

3. Background • Unconventional thinker • Strong religious convictions • Deep concerns about politics and morality • Leitmotif “crisis” due to WWI • Enigmatic character • Studied Modern History

4. Key event • 1956-1957 visiting scholar at the University of Chicago • assumed the absent Hans Morgenthau‘s teaching possibilities • instead of diplomacy he taught IR • Lectures were later reconstructed and published as “International Theory: The Three Traditions”

5. Some Publications • 1936 „Christian Pacifism“ • 1946 „The developmentofthe Legislative Council“ • 1946 „Power Politics“ • 1947 „The Gold Coast Legislative Council“ • 1948 „The Church, Russiaandthe West“ • 1951 contributedto „Attitude toAfrica“

6. 1952 Collectionof „British ColonialConstitutions“ • 1956 „The Power Strugglewithinthe United Nations“ • 1960 „Whyisthereno International Theory?“, „Brutus in ForeignPolicy“ • 1964 „European Studies“ • 1977 „Systems of States“ • 1991 “International Theory: The Three Traditions”

7. Sources • International Journal Vol. 48, No3, Summer 1993 • Hall Ian, 2006, The International Thought of Martin Wight • The Martin Wight Memorial Trust, www.mwmt.co.uk • Porter Brian, 2007, Review article The international political thought of Martin Wight, International Affairs 83: 4, 783–789

8. Thank you for your attention!