Edmund Burke: un innovatore a difesa della tradizione

This chapter examines Edmund Burke’s international political thought, revealing him as an innovator in defense of tradition. It argues that Burke’s reflections on empire and revolution shaped a coherent vision of moral order and political prudence in international affairs. His conception of the British Empire emphasized governing diversity—balancing authority and liberty across America, India, and Ireland—through moderation, justice, and respect for difference. In contrast, his response to the French Revolution redefined Europe as a “republic of states” united by shared laws, customs, and religion, legitimizing intervention to preserve this common civilization. By linking imperial governance with the moral foundations of international order, Burke anticipated key questions in modern international theory, confirming Martin Wight’s claim that he was “the only political philosopher who, starting from political theory, devoted himself entirely to international theory.”