Help Complete a Book on Medieval International Politics

Greetings! I am Dylan Motin, a recent Ph.D. in political science specializing in international relations theory with a focus on the realist approach. I need your help to complete a book about medieval international politics. It is tentatively titled The Medieval Myth in International Relations: A Realist History of the Middle Ages.

The book will propose a new and unique explanation and overview of the Middle Ages’ international politics. It will bring a new realist light on several key medieval turning points, such as the Justinian restoration, the Carolingian rise, the Crusades, the Papal-Imperial conflict, and the international transformations of the 1400s-1500s.

This work will criticize the traditional approach of medieval politics promoted by the field of International Relations. It will show that states’ foreign policy during the Middle Ages was more rational than oftentimes believed. Contrary to a widespread assumption, medieval rulers did not mindlessly follow either the Pope or the Emperor but defended their states’ strategic interests. Indeed, they mostly obeyed the rules of realism, one of International Relations’ leading theories. For medievalists, the book will serve to introduce a realist reading of several critical junctures, thereby contributing to historical debates.

Chapter One (the introduction), Chapter Two (the Justinian restoration), and Chapter Three (the eighth-ninth century) are already mostly complete. An earlier draft of Chapter Two was presented at the 2024 Midwest Political Science Association Annual Conference, and I will present Chapter Three at the upcoming ISA Virtual Conference 2024. My goal is to have a complete first draft by the end of the year.

I have a long track record of academic publications, including my first book earlier this year. You can check out my work here. I thus have complete confidence in my ability to deliver on this project. It is just a matter of resources.

By supporting this campaign, you will play a crucial role in bringing this innovative book to life. Your support can make a difference in several ways. The more funding the project gets, the more I can work full-time on completing the book. In addition, I endeavor to present parts of the book at conferences to receive feedback to improve it. But registering at conferences often approaches or exceeds $100. Moreover, a successful campaign will demonstrate strong reader interest, attracting potential publishers.

Warm thanks in advance for your support. If you want to be updated once the book is finalized — or just get in touch! — shoot me an email. Even if you’re unable to help, don’t hesitate to contact me so I can keep you informed about the book’s progress.

With gratitude,

Dylan