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Summary PO131 World Politics Liberalism
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A concise summary of Liberal theory, completed in line with the module's seminar prompts for clear and targeted revision preparation. For Warwick PAIS PO131.
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Liberalism Revision(Prompt seminar questions)
What are the key assumptions of Liberalism in IR?
What contribution does Kant’s notion of perpetual peace make to
Liberal ideas about world politics?
How do Liberal approaches challenge Realism? Which do you find
most convincing and why?
Liberal Internationalism: ‘A broad theoretical approach to *international
relations theory that includes many aspects of liberalism, focusing
specifically on the global behaviour of liberal states and their foreign-policy
aim of reforming the *international system, both in terms of ‘exporting’
liberal principles to other states and creating organizations to facilitate
cooperation on global issues’. Brown, Mclean, McMillan.
Assumptions in Liberalism:
1) War is not inevitable, and progress is possible (more optimistic
than realism)
2) States are more likely to pursue absolute gains as opposed to
relative gains (as implied by realists). Eg) If a trade deal between
America and Canada saw both countries come out richer, but America
more so, Liberals would say this is in line with ‘absolute gains’. A realist
would see this as unacceptable, because the deal has made America
more powerful than Canada.
3) Law is central and provides rules for the international political
‘game’. International law is vital.
4) Property and market are in the hands of citizens. Property
encourages individual development and prosperity, as well as
promoting the global order.
5) States vary like individuals; this means motivations differ and there
is no unitary assumption. Different states can choose different actions.
6) Basic optimism in international relations; greater cooperation and
an international rule of law.
7) Liberalism tries to blur the lines between domestic and
international by domesticating the international realm
(cooperation, rule of law etc). Realists see these two as entirely
different spheres; the domestic realm is characterised by stability,
cooperation and the rule of law, but the international system is
anarchic.
First Wave of Liberal Internationalism: Enlightenment period and
shaped by Kant, Bentham and Mill.
, Both Kant and Bentham were influenced by the new age of rights, citizenship
and constitutionalism. Following experiences of war and violence, both
theorists abhorred the lawless state of savagery.
Bentham coined the term ‘international’ in his 1780 work ‘Introduction to the
Principles of Morals and Legislation’. Bentham argued for a new concept of
international jurisprudence (the theory or philosophy of law) based on the
equality of sovereigns. He applied his theory of utilitarianism to the
international sphere.
Kant was concerned in identifying the ways and means through which a zone
of peace could be established among states to improve the human condition.
States would form bonds of trust with each other, through the creation of
‘security committees’. This directly confronts the realist notion of self-help.
A zone of peace could be created between republics (not monarchies) if the
three following things are implemented:
First Definitive Article: The Civil Mandates representative government
Constitution of Every State to prevent tyrannies from developing
Shall be Republican inside of states. Only men with
property can vote on this
representative government. He was
also a massive racist ‘Humanity is at
its greatest perfection in the race of
the whites’.
Second Definitive Article: The Suggests a ‘pacific federation’ of
Right of Nations Shall be Based states (internationalism) with
on a Federation of Free States representative governments. States
on the outside would be motivated to
join once they see the peace that
ensues.
Third Definitive Article: Focusses on encouraging
Cosmopolitan Right shall be international commerce, requiring
Limited to Conditions of agreement to ‘cosmopolitan law’
Universal Hospitality which guarantees foreigners are
treated fairly in the conduct of trade.
These articles would create a zone of peace.
Kant believed that republics would be less likely to go to war than
monarchical states, because ‘princes’ see opportunities for glory and
imperialism. The traditional capitalist class, however, would merely see war
as a disruption to trade and higher taxes which would implicate their socio-
economic lives. This group would be better equipped to run the state. The
commercial republic, as opposed to the empire, is a self-defined community
with defined boundaries. Additionally, states are political communities and
not objects to be traded imperially.
Kant’s Preliminary Articles:
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