chap 3

• Liberal Internationalism


  Underscores the significance of international cooperation, institutions, and diplomacy in managing interstate relations
• Core Tenets of Liberal Internationalism

  • Cooperation is Achievable
  • Global Interconnectedness
  • Institutional Role
  • Interdependence of Peace and Prosperity
• Multilateralism


  Encourages active collaboration among nations to reduce transaction costs, jointly address challenges (e.g., Paris Climate Agreement), and enhance stability in the international system
• Human Rights and Democracy in Liberal Internationalism


  • Places significant emphasis on human rights, democracy, and individual freedoms as foundational elements for global peace
• International Law and Commerce in Liberal Internationalism


  • Stresses the role of international law and commerce in orchestrating peace and order, with international trade and established rules diminishing the likelihood of conflicts
• Non-Governmental Actors in Liberal Internationalism


  • Acknowledges the substantial influence of international institutions and non-governmental entities in shaping state preferences, moving beyond a sole focus on power dynamics or structural systems
• Incentives for Cooperation in Liberal Internationalism


  The liberal perspective sees incentives for cooperation through the resolution of disputes by international organizations, fostering interdependence in areas like trade, finance, and culture
• Spread of Liberal Ideas

  • Promotes the idea that the spread of liberal democratic values makes nations less inclined toward war, advocating for collaboration to maximize prosperity while minimizing conflict
• Liberal Internationalism: three waves of development

  1. Founding Ideas (19th Century)

  2. Idealist Moment (Inter-War Period)

  3. Liberal International Order
• Founding Ideas of Liberal Internationalism


  • Philosophers:
  • Immanuel Kant (1724–1804)
  • Jeremy Bentham (1748–1832)
• Idealist Moment of Liberal Internationalism


  • Emphasized:
  • International rules and laws to curb self-interest
  • The role of trade and cross-border interactions in fostering peaceful relations
• Modern Extensions of Liberal Internationalism

  • Democratic Peace Theory (Michael Doyle, 1980s)
  • Francis Fukuyama (1989)
• Liberal Internationalism and Institutionalism


  • Peace Through Law
  • Shift in Liberal Thinking
  • The First World War challenge
• Francis Fukuyama (1989): 'In "The End of History," celebrated the triumph of liberalism over other ideologies'
• Internationalism and Institutionalism


  • Peace Through Law
• Shift in Liberal Thinking


  • The First World War challenged the notion of a natural harmony of interests
  • Liberal thinking shifted to recognize that peace must be actively constructed
• League of Nations


  1. Woodrow Wilson's Advocacy: Called for the creation of the League of Nations

  2. Aimed to regulate international anarchy through collective security

  3. Emphasized self-determination for all nations
• Practical and moral problems hindered the implementation of the League of Nations
• Flaws Criticized by E.H. Carr


  • Inter-war thinkers overlooked power and interest distribution
  • Failed to understand the link between values, purposes, and power
  • Tied the League's future to the dominance of European colonial powers in international society
• Three Phases of Liberalism Influence (John Ikenberry)

  1. Lib Int 1.0: Idealist Moment (Inter-War Period): Attempt to replace the old Balance of Power with the rule of law

  2. Lib Int 2.0 (1945-2002?): American-Led Order: American-led liberal international order after WW2, U.S. as the most powerful, upholding rules and institutions
• Case Study I: 1990-1 Gulf War and a 'New World Order'
• Events of the Gulf War

  • Iraqi invasion of Kuwait (August 2, 1990)
  • International Response: UN resolutions, economic sanctions
  • Operation 'Desert Storm': US-led coalition crushed Iraqi resistance (January–February 1991)
• New World Order Claimed by George H. W. Bush: 'Promoted 'peaceful settlement of disputes' and 'solidarity against aggression'<|>Revived UN doctrine of collective security, but critics questioned motivations'
• Opposing Opinions: Responsibility to Protect (R2P)


  • For: States must protect non-citizens from persecution and mass killings
  • Against: Humanitarian intervention largely rejected during the Cold War
• Lib Int 3.0 (2003-...) marks a crisis in the liberal international order
• Challenges Confronting Liberal Internationalism

  • Diminishing the relative power of the United States limits its capacity to address global risks effectively
  • Rising powers demand a greater share of authority, challenging the established liberal international order
  • Europe's incapacity to serve as a secondary superpower hampers the promotion of liberal internationalist rules and values
  • The Global South is increasingly united in denouncing perceived double standards and inequality within the liberal world order
  • Western institutions face challenges to their legitimacy and are criticized for perpetuating global inequalities
  • Questions arise about how to curb tendencies towards 'liberal imperialism' and ensure global economic and social justice
  • Uncertainty persists regarding alternative configurations of liberal internationalism, including a potential return to state sovereignty or the emergence of truly multilateral governance institutions with more just distributive principles
• Liberalism is grounded in interdependence, aiming for peaceful growth and mutual benefits between countries
• Liberals advocate for political connections, emphasizing free trade to prevent conflicts and promote economic ties
• The spread of liberal democracy globally is seen as conducive to perpetual peace by liberals
• International law and conventions are essential for governing state conduct and achieving universalized peace
• Immanuel Kant's "Perpetual Peace": 'Envisions a league of peace where republics cooperate for global harmony'
• Liberals envision a connected world order where states work with non-state entities and international organizations
• Liberal institutions like the United Nations play a crucial role in establishing rules for cooperating nations
• Francis Fukuyama's "End of History": 'Suggests the universalization of Western liberal democracy as the final form of human government'
• Despite challenges, liberals argue that democratization and the spread of liberal ideals hold the promise of a global order leading to perpetual peace
• Shared Grounds


  • Anarchic System: Both perspectives recognize the anarchic nature of the international system, though they differ in its influence on state behavior
  • Hierarchy and Use of Force: Acknowledgment of hierarchy in international politics and the potential use of force, with liberalists emphasizing risk mitigation through cooperation
  • State as Primary Actor: Both attribute a central role to the state, although liberalists consider other actors as relevant too
  • Self-Interest: Mutual acceptance of self-interest as a driving force, but liberalists introduce the idea of interdependence and absolute gains
• Key Differences


  • Gains Distribution: Liberalists emphasize both absolute and relative gains, focusing on common interests and cooperative benefits. Realists emphasize relative gains, where a state's gain is perceived in comparison to others, potentially leading to power imbalances
  • Prisoner's Dilemma: Liberalists highlight the benefits of cooperation through examples like arms reduction or addressing climate change, promoting long-term collective gains. Realists tend to view cooperation skeptically, often emphasizing self-interest and competition over collaboration
  • Perception of International System: Liberalists challenge the conflict-oriented nature of the international system emphasized by realists, asserting that cooperation is not only possible but beneficial. Realists tend to see power politics and conflict as inherent, often prioritizing military power and competition
  • Role of International Institutions: Liberalists emphasize the significance of international institutions and treaties in shaping state behavior and fostering cooperation. Realists consider institutions secondary to power dynamics and state interactions
  • Conflict Resolution and Diplomacy: Liberalists stress diplomacy, negotiation, and peaceful conflict resolution as primary tools in international relations. Realists consider conflict inherent and often see military power as a crucial tool
  • Economic Interdependence: Liberalists view economic interdependence positively, seeing it as a pathway to peace and cooperation. Realists approach economic interdependence cautiously, focusing more on power considerations
  • Central Issue in IR: Liberalists advocate for achieving lasting peace and cooperation in international relations, emphasizing a normative character. Realists often prioritize security concerns, portraying IR as a realm where states seek various goals, including wealth and prosperity
• Liberalists emphasize


  Both absolute and relative gains, focusing on common interests and cooperative benefits
• Realists emphasize


  Relative gains, where a state's gain is perceived in comparison to others, potentially leading to power imbalances
• Liberalists highlight


  The benefits of cooperation through examples like arms reduction or addressing climate change, promoting long-term collective gains