Book review: Hernández Ojeda, Víctor Antonio (2021). Montesquieu and the construction of international peace. Editorial Nun.

Abstract

To clearly understand the content of the book, it is important to understand what war is, since the fear and aberration to it is what makes human beings go in search of peace. War is an act of force to impose one's will on the other (Marin, 2018). However, when it comes to taking this as a political means to achieve a goal it is very likely that a myriad of terrible human actions, hatred, pollution, destruction, massive human rights violation, etc. will arise. On the other hand, peace is a complex concept to define, since it cannot be said that it is simply the opposite of war.

Montesquieu, French philosopher and jurist, developed during the Enlightenment. His political thought was innovative. All his works are inspired by the love of freedom and that is what led him to develop his theory of division of powers (UNAM, 2020). In addition, he is considered one of the most influential authors throughout history in terms of political doctrines (Krause, 2000). Montesquieu considers that, although war is something natural in human beings, he is not born in a state of war, but in a state of peace. And that society is not built by means of a social contract, but is something natural due to the desire and need of the human being. However, it is his very nature that leads him to war and, consequently, the search for peace.