Jeremy Bentham and the theories of international relations

Jeremy Bentham's contribution to international relations theory has been grossly misunderstood. Using Bentham's original manuscripts in University College London, his economic writings, and the recently edited Collected Works of Jeremy Bentham, this dissertation argues that Bentham's work in international relations consists of far more than his alleged essay "A Plan for an Universal and Perpetual Peace," and can only be understood with reference to his disappointment-prevention principle, or security of expectation. Although Bentham's interest in international relations focused largely on international law and the emancipation of colonies, he also wrote on other issues of peace and war. His work is often included in histories of international relations theory, but his contributions have been vastly underrated. His best-known essay, "A Plan for an Universal and Perpetual Peace" was never written by Bentham. It was a compilation of essays titled "Pacification and Emancipation," "Colonies and Navy," and "Cabinet No Secrecy," used by the general editor of The Works of Jeremy Bentham John Bowring. The title arose on the basis of an outline left by Bentham that suggested the title "Plan for an Universal and Perpetual Peace." This distortion of Bentham's work was itself misleading to numerous scholars endeavouring to understand his ideas, but most scholars never undertook the initiative to look at Bentham's other essays, especially his economic essays, to gain a sense of his important contributions to international political economy. As a result, Bentham's ideas have been designated part of the liberal tradition of international relations theory. Bentham's ideas cannot be so easily categorized. A much better understanding of Bentham's many works in international relations can be obtained when applying Bentham's disappointment-prevention principle. This principle embodies Bentham's life-long concern for security, and his need to weigh all policy and action on the basis of how security would be affected. It is this principle that provides the foundation for Bentham's famous principle of utility. This dissertation attempts to gather as much of Bentham's ideas on international relations together, and evaluate it in light of Bentham's concern for security.