Liberalism

Question 1

Origins

Answer 1

international law, economic ideas, enlightenment

Question 2

What are some core assumptions?

Answer 2

• anarchy is default stage but can change
• rational states, self-interest of states (same as realist)
• equal sovereignty among states
• progress and change in IR is possible (not automatic but a rational learning process)
• preferences matter for cooperation (communicated through IOs)

Question 3

3 Kant core assumptions (Doyle)

Answer 3

1. democracy
2. Economic interdependence
3. International institutions

The Kantian Triangle -> self perpetuating system

Question 4

1. democracy

Answer 4

• democracies are more peaceful than dictatorships due to:
  1. norms -> belief that peace can be achieved
  2. institutions -> leaders held responsible in democracy for costs of war

Question 5

2. Economic interdependence

Answer 5

sustained commercial interaction limits conflict because of:

1. medium of communication -> building trust and creating mutual understand and identity
2. risks and costs

Question 6

3. International Institutions

Answer 6

promote peace and cooperation through:

1. forum for mediating, arbitrating and resolving disputes
2. identifying and coercing norm-breakers
3. providing info
4. demonstrating mutal long-term gains of cooperation

Question 7

Classical Liberalism (idealism, utopianism)

Answer 7

• peace outcome of conscious efforts (Wilson) -> -world gov. similar to domestic order
• harmony of interests
• moral values

Question 8

Neoliberalism (neoliberal institutionalism)

Answer 8

• reaction to neorealism
• unitary, rationality, self-interest (same as neorealists)
• but anarchy not durable
• mutual and absolute gains
• institutions provide info -> mitigates concerns -> integration theory
• distribution of preferences

Question 9

Liberal Internationalism

Answer 9

-liberal international order (Ikenberry)
-self-interest
-sovereignty, democracy, self-determination… (problem: which should be prioritised over others? contradictions?)
Is it liberal? Is it order? Universal?
-Representative/democratic vs. effective
-Rise of new powers and ideas (China, India…)
-The false promise of international institutions

Question 10

Democratic Peace Theory

Answer 10

-Kant
-democracy = peace?
-democracies peaceful with each other, not with non-democratic states (empirical regularity)
why:
-norms and institutions
-‘law’ as never proven wrong
problems:
-small sample only
-relatively peaceful neighborhoods (west)
-how to define ‘democracy’ and ‘peace’?
-other factors influence: economic integration, IOs?
-democracy -> imposition/intervention -> violence
-explanatory or normative objectives?