Ethical considerations and political theories centered around the individual have lost most of their strength in contemporary International Relations, leaving space for rigorous social scientific approaches. Nonetheless, the works of Reinhold Niebuhr and other “pre-Waltzian” classical realists still seem to be inspiring for various scholars who cyclically rediscover them. Can Christian Realism still provide useful guidelines for current international politics? What are the parts and ideas that are still able to provide interesting insights and those that are definitely not adequate anymore? This paper argues that Christian faith is inherently realist and looks at its relationships with the various strands of political realism to sketch the distinguishing features of a Christian Realism. Then, the paper highlights unexplored links between Christian Realism, some European thinkers, and the Catholic tradition of thought. Christian Realism has mostly been considered an American protestant phenomenon, but new interesting contributions can actually enrich it. Finally, the paper aims at assessing whether a revised form or Christian Realism can provide useful insights for contemporary international issues, especially concerning the present crisis of the European Union and the relationships among the major powers in search of a future global governance.
