Carr's critical approach

Classical realist theory which is represented by Carr’s work is relatively open, dialectical, yet logically less coherent. Carr argues that theory cannot be carelessly simplified since the society is an entity of contradiction. Using Hegelian dialectic, Carr criticizes two extremes, utopianism and realism, rejects the dichotomy, and calls for a middle ground of ‘peaceful change’. Carr’s emphasis on “relativity of thought” (Carr, 1964, 67-68) shows his courage to face the tension between material elements and idea (or power and morality).
 
Utopianists take the world as the way it should be and base their argument on the harmony of interest, belief in morality and human reasoning. Wilson’s effort to establish the League of Nation was a product of this Utopian ideology, which got shattered with the WWII. Carr calls for a reality check by turning to ‘mature’ politics. He argues that international law is but a reflection of power and interests and not always reliable.

Though by creating realist theory, Carr creates another kind of determinism view, seeing “power as the essential element of politics”, (Carr, 102) he did not totally stand by this side. As he notes, realism and utopianism were equally error, (Carr, 97-98) and the reality of politics is a “tentative and uneasy compromises” between “power and conscience”. (Carr, 100) He argues that realism, which studies the world as it is, does not offer any more than ‘naked struggle for power’. Instead Carr calls for ‘peaceful change’ where diverse interests could be accommodated through the practice of bargaining and negotiation, and that there need to be sound judgements on when to ‘yield to the threat of force’ and when to reject it.

In this sense, Carr's work is closer to critical theory, than to the later Waltzian realist theories. His balanced understanding of social reality is not "handy" for theory builders, but insightful for those who are seeking comprehensive understandings of IR.