LiberalismLiberalismIn International Relations TheoryIn International Relations Theory

Doc. D-r Snezana Bilic - SotiroskaDoc. D-r Snezana Bilic - Sotiroska

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OutlineOutline

Major figuresMajor figures The first IR paradigmThe first IR paradigm It takes all sorts to make the liberalismIt takes all sorts to make the liberalism Key conceptsKey concepts A success story?A success story?

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INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Opposition to Realism.Opposition to Realism. Normative character of Liberalism.Normative character of Liberalism. Optimistic view of International Relations?Optimistic view of International Relations? State power is not the only variable in International State power is not the only variable in International

Relations.Relations. Peace, Law, Justice, non-state actors, have also a Peace, Law, Justice, non-state actors, have also a

fundamental role in International Relations.fundamental role in International Relations. Despite the common points concerning a stable Despite the common points concerning a stable

international order not based upon state relations of international order not based upon state relations of power, there are different opinions inside Liberalism.power, there are different opinions inside Liberalism.

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DIFFERENCES INSIDE LIBERALIMDIFFERENCES INSIDE LIBERALIM

Different approaches within the same perspective of Different approaches within the same perspective of liberlaismliberlaism

Why wars occur: Imperialism, Balance of Power or Why wars occur: Imperialism, Balance of Power or Undemocratic regimes?Undemocratic regimes?

Peace or Order: What’s the objective of world Peace or Order: What’s the objective of world politics?politics?

How to reach that objective: collective security, How to reach that objective: collective security, commerce or world government?commerce or world government?

Relation between liberal states and non-liberal states: Relation between liberal states and non-liberal states: conquest, conversion or toleration? conquest, conversion or toleration?

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VARIETIES OF LIBERALISMVARIETIES OF LIBERALISM

Early manifestations of liberalist thought in the sixteenth Early manifestations of liberalist thought in the sixteenth century.century.

Rejection of the idea that conflict is the natural relation Rejection of the idea that conflict is the natural relation between states.between states.

First liberals: Erasmus (war is not profitable - 1517); Penn First liberals: Erasmus (war is not profitable - 1517); Penn (Diet of Europe – 1693); Kant (Perpetual Peace - 1795)(Diet of Europe – 1693); Kant (Perpetual Peace - 1795)

Liberal thought in international relations can be separated Liberal thought in international relations can be separated into into three major patterns: three major patterns: • Liberal Internationalism, Liberal Internationalism, • Idealism, Idealism, • Liberal Institutionalism.Liberal Institutionalism.

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LIBERAL INTERNATIONALISMLIBERAL INTERNATIONALISM

Liberal internationalism presumed that states Liberal internationalism presumed that states would be submited to a system of legal rights would be submited to a system of legal rights and duties, but and duties, but without the need of any world without the need of any world government. government.

There is a There is a natural order natural order underpinning human underpinning human society, a natural harmony of interests in society, a natural harmony of interests in international relations.international relations.

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)

““Leviathan” created to avoid war of all Leviathan” created to avoid war of all against allagainst all Individual sovereignty

surrendered to preserve individual rights

The best solution –

monarchy!

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John Locke (1632-1704)John Locke (1632-1704)All men are born free and equal in rights to life, liberty, estate.

In civil society everyone surrenders its sovereignty to community ruled by separate executive and legislative powers.

If the ruler breaks the social contract – down with him!

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Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832)

UtilitarianismUtilitarianism ““between the interests of nations between the interests of nations

there is nowhere a real conflict”there is nowhere a real conflict”

“establish a common tribunal and the necessity for war no longer followsfrom the difference of opinion”

American Confederation, Swiss League, German Diet

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Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) Contemporary IR – “Lawless state of Contemporary IR – “Lawless state of

savagery”savagery” Transformation of individual consciousnessTransformation of individual consciousness Republican constitutionalismRepublican constitutionalism A federal contract between states toA federal contract between states to

abolish war – a permanent abolish war – a permanent peace treaty rather than a peace treaty rather than a superstate actor or world superstate actor or world government government

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Richard Cobden (1804-65)Richard Cobden (1804-65)

The Apostle of Free TradeThe Apostle of Free Trade Improve education, decrease military Improve education, decrease military

spending, lower taxesspending, lower taxes National hero for Corn Law, 1846National hero for Corn Law, 1846 Traitor for campaign against the Traitor for campaign against the

Crimean WarCrimean War Anglo-French Commercial Treaty, Anglo-French Commercial Treaty,

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Herbert Spenser, (1820-1903) Herbert Spenser, (1820-1903)

Social DarwinismSocial Darwinism The Organic Analogy, butThe Organic Analogy, but Differences between Society and BodyDifferences between Society and Body Social EvolutionSocial Evolution

Military society – compulsory cooperation of Military society – compulsory cooperation of membersmembers

Industrial society – voluntary Industrial society – voluntary Ethical state – common resources to perfect Ethical state – common resources to perfect

human characterhuman character

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The Birth of a DisciplineThe Birth of a Discipline

justice to all peoples and nationalities, and their right to live on equal terms of liberty and safely with one another, whether they be strong or weak.

The Birth of a Discipline with Wilson …The day of conquest and aggrandizement is gone by...

The first Chair of International Relations, in University of Wales, Aberystwyth

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Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson

The only President with a Ph.D.The only President with a Ph.D. President of Princeton University, President of Princeton University,

1902-101902-10 The 14 points – address to Congress, The 14 points – address to Congress,

January 1918January 1918 The first sitting President to visit The first sitting President to visit

EuropeEurope Women and blacks are excludedWomen and blacks are excluded

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14 points14 points1.1. Open covenants openly arrived atOpen covenants openly arrived at

2.2. Freedom of the seas in peace and warFreedom of the seas in peace and war

3.3. Remove all economic barriers to tradeRemove all economic barriers to trade

4.4. Reduction of national armamentsReduction of national armaments

5.5. A readjustment of all colonial claimsA readjustment of all colonial claims

6.6. Leave Russia aloneLeave Russia alone

7.7. Evacuate and restore BelgiumEvacuate and restore Belgium

8.8. Restore France, return Alsace-LorraineRestore France, return Alsace-Lorraine1515

14 points14 points

9.9. Readjust Italian frontiers along national Readjust Italian frontiers along national lineslines

10.10. Self-determination for peoples of Austria-Self-determination for peoples of Austria-HungaryHungary

11.11. Redraw boundaries of Balkan states along Redraw boundaries of Balkan states along historically established lines of nationalityhistorically established lines of nationality

12.12. Self-determination for peoples under Self-determination for peoples under Turkish ruleTurkish rule

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14 points14 points

13.13. Independence for Poland with free Independence for Poland with free access to the sea guaranteed by access to the sea guaranteed by international covenantinternational covenant

14.14. Form a general association of nations Form a general association of nations under specific covenants to afford under specific covenants to afford mutual guarantees of political mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike. to great and small states alike.

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Three ImagesThree Images IndividualIndividual StateState SystemSystem

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The Three ImagesThe Three ImagesImagesImages Who, whenWho, when Causes of warCauses of war How to make How to make

peacepeace

Human Human naturenature

R. Cobden R. Cobden mid-19mid-19ththc.c.

Govts intervene at Govts intervene at home and abroad, home and abroad, disturb natural disturb natural orderorder

Indiv. liberty, free Indiv. liberty, free trade, prosperity, trade, prosperity, interdependenceinterdependence

The stateThe state W. Wilson W. Wilson early 20early 20thth c.c.

Undemocratic Undemocratic nature of intntl. nature of intntl. politics, esp. foreign politics, esp. foreign policy and balance policy and balance of powerof power

National self-National self-determination, determination, open govts open govts respond to public respond to public opinion, collective opinion, collective securitysecurity

Structure Structure of systemof system

J. Hobson J. Hobson early 20early 20thth c.c.

Balance of power Balance of power systemsystem

World govt. with World govt. with powers to mediate powers to mediate and enforce and enforce decisionsdecisions

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Liberalism inLiberalism in

• EconomicsEconomics• Domestic politicsDomestic politics• International relations:International relations:

– Liberal internationalismLiberal internationalism– IdealismIdealism– Liberal institutionalismLiberal institutionalism

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Liberal InternationalismLiberal Internationalism A law-governed international society A law-governed international society

can emerge without a world govt.can emerge without a world govt. The progress of freedom depends on The progress of freedom depends on

maintenance of peace, spread of maintenance of peace, spread of commerce and diffusion of educationcommerce and diffusion of education

Human society can be based on natural Human society can be based on natural orderorder

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Liberal InternationalismLiberal Internationalism

Natural harmony in relations by ‘the Natural harmony in relations by ‘the invisible hand’ of invisible hand’ of laissez fairelaissez faire economic economic principlesprinciples

By pursuing self-interest actors By pursuing self-interest actors inadvertently promote public goodinadvertently promote public good

Capitalism is natural and inherently Capitalism is natural and inherently pacificpacific

Economic interdependence fosters peaceEconomic interdependence fosters peace

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IdealismIdealism

Peace is not natural but must be Peace is not natural but must be constructedconstructed

Domestic analogy – international Domestic analogy – international governance must use the same governance must use the same procedures procedures

Collective security rather than alliance Collective security rather than alliance system (collective defence)system (collective defence)

Teaching what Teaching what ought to beought to be and not and not just what is – Wilson Chairjust what is – Wilson Chair

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Liberal InstitutionalismLiberal Institutionalism

Transnational cooperation needed to Transnational cooperation needed to resolve common problemsresolve common problems

Cooperation in one sector would Cooperation in one sector would extend range of collaborationextend range of collaboration

Growing integration increases the Growing integration increases the ‘cost’ of withdrawal from cooperative ‘cost’ of withdrawal from cooperative venturesventures

Pluralism of actorsPluralism of actors

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Key Concepts of LiberalismKey Concepts of Liberalism Collective securityCollective security Democratic peace and democracy Democratic peace and democracy

promotionpromotion Integration and interdependenceIntegration and interdependence Rule of law, human rightsRule of law, human rights Normative element in theoryNormative element in theory Pluralism of actorsPluralism of actors World governmentWorld government

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Liberal SuccessesLiberal Successes

The League of NationsThe League of Nations• The ILO, the Health Organization, the The ILO, the Health Organization, the

Mandates CommissionMandates Commission• Political disputes resolvedPolitical disputes resolved

Finland-Sweden, Germany-Poland, Greece-Finland-Sweden, Germany-Poland, Greece-Bulgaria, Turkey-Iraq, Bolivia-Paraguay, Bulgaria, Turkey-Iraq, Bolivia-Paraguay, Peru-Colombia Peru-Colombia

Apprenticeship for the UNApprenticeship for the UN The English School of IRThe English School of IR

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The First Great DebateThe First Great Debate

Reinhold Niebuhr. Moral Man and Reinhold Niebuhr. Moral Man and Immoral Society, 1932Immoral Society, 1932

Edward Carr. The Twenty Years’ Edward Carr. The Twenty Years’ Crisis, 1939Crisis, 1939

Frederick SchumanFrederick Schuman Georg SchwarzenbergerGeorg Schwarzenberger

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