INTERNATIONALISM PDF

By Jan Isaac Pasamante The world was split into independent, sovereign entities under the Westphalian and Concert systems. There have been attempts to transcend this interstate structure since its inception. Some, like Bonaparte, actively opposed the system by encroaching on the sovereignty of othe...

By Jan Isaac Pasamante The world was split into independent, sovereign entities under the Westphalian and Concert systems. There have been attempts to transcend this interstate structure since its inception. Some, like Bonaparte, actively opposed the system by encroaching on the sovereignty of other states while others attempted to envisage alternative governing systems that went beyond but did not necessarily threaten sovereignty. Still, others imagine a system of heightened interaction between various sovereign states, particularly the desire for increased cooperation and solidarity among states and peoples. This desire is called internationalism.  Socialist Liberal internationalism Internationalism Emphasizes democratic Focuses on class struggle values, international law, and and international solidarity global governance among working people The first major thinker of liberal internationalism was the late 18 century German philosopher Immanuel Kant. Kant likened states in a global system to people living in a given territory. If people living together require a government to prevent lawlessness, should it not be that the same principle is applied to states? Without a form of world government, he argued, the international system would be chaotic. Therefore, states, like citizens of countries, must give up some freedoms and "establish a continuously growing state consisting of various nations which will ultimately include the nations of the world." Writing in the late 18* century as well, British philosopher Jeremy Bentham (who coined the word "international" in 1780) advocated the creation of "international law" that would govern inter-state relations. Bentham believed that objective global legislators should aim to propose legislation that would create “the greatest happiness of all nations taken together”. Supremacy of World Government: Fears that a powerful global government could override the authority of individual nations. Threats to Sovereignty: Concerns that international laws and institutions could limit the ability of states to govern themselves independently. The first thinker to reconcile nationalism with liberal internationalism was the 19* century Italian patriot Giuseppe Mazzini. Mazzini was both an advocate of the unification of the various Italian-speaking mini-states and a major critic of the Metternich system. He believed in a Republican government (without kings, queens, and hereditary succession) and proposed a system of free nations that cooperated with each other to create an international system. For Mazzini, free, independent states would be the basis of an equally free, cooperative international system. He argued that, if the various Italian mini-states could unify, one could scale up the system to create, for example, a United States of Europe. Mazzini was a nationalist internationalist, who believed that free, unified nation-states should be the basis of global cooperation. Mazzini influenced the thinking of United States President (1913-1921) Woodrow Wilson, who became one of the 20' century's most prominent internationalists. Like Mazzini, Wilson saw nationalism as a prerequisite for internationalism. Because of his faith in nationalism, he forwarded the principle of self- determination-the belief that the world's nations had a right to a free and sovereign government. He hoped that these free nations would become democracies because only by being such would they be able to build a free system of international relations based on international law and cooperation.  Wilson, in short, became the most notable advocate for the creation of the League of Nations. At the end of World War I in 1918, he pushed to transform the League into a venue for conciliation and arbitration to prevent another war. For his efforts, Wilson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1919.  The evolution of international relations has balanced state sovereignty with the desire for global cooperation. From the Westphalian system to figures like Bonaparte, the international stage has seen various challenges and visions. Thinkers like Kant and Bentham laid the groundwork for liberal internationalism, advocating for global stability and lawfulness beyond national borders. Mazzini and Wilson later reconciled nationalism with internationalism, envisioning a world where sovereign nations collaborate under international law and democratic principles. This highlights the ongoing quest for a peaceful global order that respects national sovereignty while promoting cooperation.