Week 4 Flashcards
(29 cards)
4 fundamental assumptions of liberalism?
- Progress: The belief that progress can occur
- Conflict: Economic interdependence and spread of democracy makes war irrational, therefore obsolete or less likely
- Liberal ideals: A commitment to furtherance of individual liberties and democracy
- Transfer: It is possible to project values of order, liberty, justice and toleration into international relations
3 basic liberal premises:
- On war:
o War is not a natural condition
o Peace is normal
o National interests are safeguarded by more than military means - On human nature:
o Faith in human reason and progress - On governance:
o Democracy is necessary for human development
o States not the main actors on international stage
o Not unitary actors
o Interdependence is key
What are the origins of liberalism:
- 17th century: enlightenment
o Liberalism emerged.
o Focus on individual liberty and challenging absolute monarchy.
o Locke. - 18Th – 19th century: political and economic liberalism
o political liberalism – principles such as separation of powers (secular governance), popular sovereignty
o economic liberalism - Industrial Revolution = economic liberalism = individual economic freedoms (free markets). - 20th century: Wilsonian idealism
o Liberalism – moving from domestic to international.
o After World War I, President Woodrow Wilson promoted liberal internationalism.
o Wilsons 14 points – principles for peace post WW1. - Post WWII
o Rebirth of liberalism – pragmatism rather than idealism.
o Push for international institutions to facilitate cooperation/prevent conflict.
o Liberalism reborn as neoliberalism (liberal institutionalism).
2 key classical thinkers:
- John Lock (the ‘founding father’) – inherent natural rights of the individual (freedom and autonomy), governments exist by consent of the governed, government powers should be ‘checked’ by law
- Immanual Kant - Proposed the idea of perpetual peace through republican governments, rule of law, and international cooperation.
What is DPT and 4 key ideas?
DPT = Democracies do not go to war with one another. Michael Doyle in the 1980’s.
1. Support- Government answers to population; cannot unilaterally go to war without their support
2. Costs - Population less likely to accept war since they bear the costs directly
3. Institutional checks and balances - debate and oversight
4. Tolerance and empathy - democratic societies are more forgiving and ready to identify with those like them
5. Globalization and interdependence - connected through trade, technology, travel, and shared institutions, connected through trade, technology, travel, and shared institutions.
3 premises of neoliberalism (liberal institutionalism):
- States interact through multiple channels (formal and informal)
Unlike realism, not exclusively state-to-state, military, and high-level diplomacy. State interaction is broader/more complex. - Security is not always the agenda; multiple issues at different times
Unlike realism, not just power/security. Broader agenda of state goals occurring simultaneously (human rights, environment, public health, technologies, trade etc). Means state relations can be both cooperation and disagreement on different issues. - Cost of military conflict
War is destructive and expensive. Disrupts trade, political instability, domestic backlash, risks international isolation/sanctions. - Hard power versus soft power; purpose of diplomacy
Hard power = force or coercion (military, economic pressure).
Soft power = influence through attraction (culture, values, legitimacy, diplomacy).
Power not necessarily about force.
Neoliberal state interactions – formal and informal:
Formal channels: embassies, treaties, summits, international organizations.
Informal channels: NGOs, business networks, academic exchange, civil society, even tourism.
Liberal Institutionalism – 3 roles of institutions:
- Centralize collective actions
o organize and coordinate efforts between multiple states - Hold members to account
o Rules, standards, expectations, monitor behaviour, provide transparency, accountability. - Manage conflict and agreements
o Provides neutral ground for negotiation and mediation
2 key ways neoliberalism differs from liberalism:
- Separation of facts and values
o It is a theory and not an attempt to promote liberal values; it is based on how the world is, not how it should be
o Believe cooperation and trade are important aspects of international politics BUT do not outright advocate it - Interdependence and free trade do NOT necessarily breed cooperation
o Not “forces of good” as liberals would argue but a tool for minimizing conflict
o Recognition that cooperation is easier in some areas than others
Contemporary Liberalism – 4 approaches:
- Institutions; Collective Security
o Collective security means an attack on one is an attack on all—so aggression is deterred by the unity of many.
o International institutions (like the UN, NATO, WTO) help manage state behavior and promote peace through cooperation. - Free Trade and Economic Interdependence
o Trade connects economies, creating mutual benefits that reduce incentives for conflict.
o Economic interdependence raises the cost of war – cooperation more appealing. - Democracy and Human Rights
o Democracies are more peaceful (DPT)
o Universal human rights
o Outcome - Respect for human rights and rule of law reduces internal repression and external aggression. - Multilateralism
o shared responsibility and collective problem-solving for issues like climate change, pandemics, etc.
3 key downfalls of neoliberalism (and neorealism):
- morality - human rights, justice, and moral responsibility (genocide, climate justice) are central - can’t be explained just by interests or institutions.
- Origins of the system - Ignores historical context of power structures (imperialism/colonisation)
- Influence of culture/identity? Real-world conflicts are often driven by perceptions, historical trauma, or identity, not just material power. Liberalism/realism assume states act rationally for power (realism) or cooperation (liberalism). But - culture, identity, religion, nationalism, and ideology often shape state ‘rationality’.
What are IGO’s?
Intergovernmental Organisations – organisations whose members are state governments.
Formal and Informal IGO’s:
Formal IGOs:
* Examples: UN, IMF, WB, WTO, WHO
Informal IGOs:
* Example: G-8/G-7/G-20.
Define regime:
“Sets of implicit or explicit principles, norms, rules and decision-making procedures around which actors’ expectations converge in a given area of international relations”
Regime - most formal bureaucratic organisational form of an institution)
4 elements of regime classification:
- Principles: based on a common understanding of how the world works
- Norms: specify general standards of behaviour and identify the obligations of states
- Rules: to reconcile conflicts which may exist between principles and norms
- Decision-making procedures: (voting rules, etc)
2 types of regimes:
Tacit – based on an expectation that informal rules will be followed (soft enforcement).
Full blown – high expectation that formal rules will be observed.
Regime theory – Realism (4):
- Regimes generate differential benefits for states
Powerful states tend to shape the rules in ways that serve their interests. - Regimes enable states to coordinate
This coordination is strategic, not driven by trust or shared values. - Power is the central feature of regime formation
Regimes don’t emerge naturally or out of idealism—they are created by powerful states to preserve their dominance. - The nature of world order depends on the underlying principles and norms of regimes
Nature of international sphere is shaped by the principles underlying regimes. Underlying regimes is often power politics.
These rules (regimes) aren’t just neutral — they are based on specific principles and norms. Those principles and norms determine how international politics works.
Regime theory – Neoliberalism (4):
- Regimes enable states to collaborate
- Regimes promote the common good
- Regimes flourish best when promoted and maintained by a benign hegemon
- Regimes promote globalization and a liberal world order.
Neoliberalism – regime formation (2 stage):
- Existence of a hegemon prepared to sustain costs of producing the public good.
- Long term v short term analysis
o the hegemon’s long-term interest to have a stable, rule-based system overrides the initial cost.
Realism – regime formation:
- Power forms regimes: Regimes are created by power to promote states own interests.
- Forced coordination: Those who cannot influence are forced to coordinate.
Two schools of thought on IGO – State relationship:
- IGO’s have minimal influence. Serve interest of the (powerful) state. States cooperation when it furthers own interests.
- IGO’s are purposive actors – can act autonomously from member states, have own agenda.
Rise of IGO’s – 2 important stages:
- Post WWII:
- End of Cold war:
Explain post WWII as a key stage in the rise of IGO’s (stage and 2 challenges):
Stage = creation and uncertainty
2 challenges facing IGO’s
1. emergence of bipolar world, IGO’s politicised and manipulated
2. decolonisation and emergence of new states required adaption.
Explain post-cold war as a key stage in the rise of IGO’s (stage and 3 factors):
Stage = transformative.
3 factors:
1. Guidance: new states and states in transition required support
2. Economy: Economy was complexified – greater control/regulation required.
3. Coordination: Emergence of new states – state coordination was complexified
