Abstract

The article aims to place Wilsonianism in the context of political theory. Wilsonianism has generally been linked to an idealistic vision of international relations, and this is the line taken by various authors, from Carl Schmitt to Henry Kissinger, in their critiques of American foreign policy. Some, like Walter Russell Mead and G. John Ikenberry, have drawn on this by way of defending how the United States’ performance on the global stage. Wilson’s academic works did not formulate any coherent theoretical vision of peace, war, and international relations. Historiography reveals a more nuanced picture that emerges from the theoretical paradigm of Wilsonianism. The article particularly delves into how, in pivotal foreign policy decisions, Wilson was guided by realistic considerations, focusing on the role of states and the balance of power