From “Selective Engagement” to “Enlightened Realism”?

... softens the most dangerous and destructive manifestations of egoism without encroaching on the fundamental features of human nature. As applied to international relations, the theory of "rational egoism" could be interpreted as "enlightened realism." An analogue of Kant's "moral law" in this case would be the unity of fundamental values between Russia and the European Union. However, since the European and Russian elites are never going to agree on values, relations should be built on interests instead. That is, not on non-dogmatic religious views of Immanuel Kant, but instead on the atheist rationalism of ...