The Analysis Of Reinhold Niebuhr's Christian Realism

Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971), as one of the representatives of AmericanChristian Realism, created the Christian Realism theory in the last century and devotedhimself greatly to the civil politics, social affairs and international issues. He is praisedas the most influential political philosopher and theologian in the20thcentury for hisgreat contribution to the America and the western world.Originated in the basic theory of Christian and setting on the early20thcentury asthe historical background, this paper digs out the implied meaning of Niebuhr'sChristian Realism theory and studies in-depth the relationship between the NiebuhrThought and the Realism theory in the international politics. Based on the basicprinciples and doctrines of the Christian, this paper studies in-depth the NiebuhrThought. This paper represents the transforming process of Niebuhr from an ideallyliberal to a realist relating to his concern for the social and political issues and bymeans of his solving patterns for the political and social problems of that time. In thebeginning part of the paper, after a brief introduction of Niebuhr's life, his view ofhuman natures consisting with the Original Sin and Love of Sacrifice is interpreted indetail. The view of human natures originating in the Original Sin is the departure andtheoretical base for Niebuhr to analyze the social and political issues. Then therelationship between the individual and the group is analyzed, which is essentially toanalyze the personal moral and the national ethics to exhibit these diametricallyopposed subjects. In the following part, Niebuhr's great influence to the Americanforeign policy, especially the Cold War policy, and to the traditional foreign policy iselaborated. Moreover, Niebuhr's attitude to the war and the nuclear deterrence is alsodepicted. Finally, the paper talks about Niebuhr's great contribution to the society,meanwhile his insufficiency is also pointed out.The appearance of Niebuhr's Christian Realism Thought relates greatly to thesocial reality of that time, which is naturally the product of that time and reflects trulythe social conditions of that time. Based on the gradually understanding and criticizing of the Liberal Thought, Niebuhr's Christian Realism Thought comes out. Niebuhr, asthe most influential representative of Realism theory, has great influence to a largenumber of political learners and political elites, including Hans Morgenthau. Niebuhris regarded as the enlightenment of the Realism in the international politics. Niebuhr'sthought of the politics and society of that time can still work on today. Making ageneral view of contemporary international political dynamics, especially theAmerican foreign policies, it can be easily to find the basis and clues form researchingthe Niebuhr's theory.