Thomas More’s Utopia: A Manual for Expansionist Foreign Policy?

Abstract

Thomas More’s Utopia also touches upon the international relations of the ideal state called Utopia. The utopian foreign politics depend upon a hierarchical understanding of international relations, where Utopia occupies the uppermost position. This self-righteous and self-serving position enables Utopia to wage aggressive wars and to implement an imperialistic policy. Geographical expansion is an important component of this policy, which is justified by an unquestionable moral superiority of this state. Utopians feel free to declare wars, appoint rulers from their ranks for their allies and usurp other nations’ soil at will. All this stems from the fact that Utopia has an unfalsifiable claim of always being the rightful party.

Keywords: Thomas More, Utopia, International Law, International Relations, War

JEL Classification: K33, F5