Liberalism in International Relations

Liberalism in International Relations

• Humans are inherently sympathetic, not selfish or bad. They cooperate, compromise, and strive for peace.
• States, like humans, possess natural rights and require international governance to regulate their actions. The League of Nations and the United Nations are examples of such governing bodies.

Historical Development of Liberalism

• Liberal thought originates from thinkers like John Locke, Jeremy Bentham, J.J Rousseau, and Immanuel Kant.
• Liberal thinkers recognized the potential for progress through modern society and capitalist economy, fostered by individual liberty.
• Early liberal thought criticized the flawed natural order arising from undemocratic state leaders and outdated policies like the balance of power.

High-Water Mark of Liberal Thought

• The interwar period (1919-1939) marked a significant point, with liberals advocating for war avoidance, contrasting the archaic nature of settling disputes between states.
• The League of Nations was established in 1920 reflecting these efforts.
• Post-WWII, liberals emphasized the importance of international institutions handling areas states could not address effectively.
• This period served as the catalyst for integration theory in Europe.

IR Principles of Liberalism / Idealism

• International relations are fundamentally cooperative, not conflictual, reflecting shared interests motivating collaborative acts.
• Progress is evident through ongoing modernization (including industrialization/trade), leading to a more peaceful international environment.
• Mutual cooperation and the formation of international organizations contribute to a less violent world.
• Public opinion/identity changes drive peaceful norms, making democracies increasingly democratic.
• There has been a decline in the number of people killed in wars, evidencing the lessened likelihood of conflict.
• Effective power politics can result from a focus on doing good.

IR Principles of Liberalism (cont.)

• Human beings have the potential to improve; democracy is key to that development.
• War is not the inevitable fate of world politics.
• States aren't the only powerful actors; Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Multinational corporations (MNCs), and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) also play crucial roles in global affairs.
• Nation interests are not simply about military power, but also encompass economic, environmental, and technological progress.
• The structure of international relations is driven not just by power balances, but also by laws, norms, and international regimes.
• The world is a complex environment of negotiations amongst various actors.

Liberalism/Idealism on Key IR Concepts

• International regimes are sets of rules, norms, and procedures structuring expectations across an issue area. They often emerge from cooperation.
• Collective security stems from multilateral alliances forming a joint response to aggression from any state.

Types of Liberalism

• Institutional Liberals: emphasize the importance of organized cooperation amongst states.
• Interdependence Liberals: focus on economic ties (for mutual exchange and dependence) between states and peoples.
• Republican Liberals: believe liberal democratic constitutions enhance peaceful interactions.
• Sociological Liberals: highlight transnational networks connecting societies.

Institutional Liberalism

• Establish a world federation that resembles today's United Nations to promote cooperation.
• Promoting Democracy: emphasize internal government structures which encourage peace.
• Promoting Trade: promote cooperation through economic relationships, which foster peace and prosperity, as economic interdependence is important to avoid conflict
• Liberal institutional theory attempts to clarify mechanisms for achieving global peace and cooperation

Arguments for Liberalism

• States can develop shared norms and enforcement mechanisms through international institutions.
• Diverse international organizations like the UN, EU, and others can support mutual understanding and trust.
• Cooperation is a rational choice for states compared to resorting to war.
• Diplomacy and multilateralism are effective strategies in international relations.

Republican Liberalism/Democratic Peace

• Democracies are more peaceful than authoritarian regimes and rarely conflict.
• Democracies are involved in conflict, but mostly against authoritarian regimes.
• Democracies rarely fight amongst themselves. This is due to the fact that their shared interests, interdependence, and views on other peoples discourage conflict and encourage cooperation.

Interdependence Liberalism

• Mutual economic ties between individuals and states lower likelihood of war and increase global cooperation.
• Trade relationships encourage peace and broader international cooperation.

Sociological Liberalism

• IR extends beyond state-to-state relations, encompassing relations between individuals, groups, and societies.
• Relations between people are more cooperative than those between states.
• Transnational networks foster peaceful interactions in the absence of warfare.

Neoliberalism

• Neoliberalism is a variant of liberal theory focusing on how international institutions create collective outcomes.
• States are rational actors with self-interests, motivated by maximizing utility.
• States engage in cooperation through international institutions to realize mutual benefits.
• The structure of international institutions plays a crucial role in achieving cooperation.

Criticisms of Liberalism

• Liberalism is viewed as impractical and unrealistic given its utopian ideals.
• It's criticized for being culturally specific and ethnocentric.
• Effective international organization establishment and peace/disarmament efforts have been unsuccessful at times.
• It is criticized for neglecting human nature and political realities.