An ethico-political model of cooperation among States. The relationship between theory and practice in the international politics of Samuel Pufendorf

The specific character“ of Pufendorf’s theory of the international order „is recognisable in embryonic form in the very foundations of his moral philosophy“, but also has „factors [...] not solely related to phylosophical elements pertaining to natural law“. From such a standpoint, this paper aims to focus on the dialectical relationship between the various principles upon which the theory of jus gentium as developed by Samuel Pufendorf is founded and supported. In fact, this theory is substantiated as much by principles of natural law, arising from the complex edifice of the officia pacis, as by strictly political criteria that coincide with the interests of States, as well as their more specific corollaries.