Liberal Institutionalism Flashcards
Central argument of LI
Cooperation between states is possible despite anarchy
Same with realism
- Anarchy as ordering principle
- states behave rationally
- BUT LI makes different assumptions about subsequent behaviour of states globally
Liberalism as school of thought
- Explains global affairs and analyses processes of globalisation and interdependence between states
- opens black-box of state and wants to understand how state behaviour and interests are shaped domestically
- believes in possibility of progress
Liberalism as political ideology
- promotes liberal values such as HR or democracy globally
- embodied in Liberal International Order
- believes in possibility of progress
Liberal international order
World order organised around economic openness, multilateral institutions, security cooperation and democratic solidarity
- USA as hegemon and leader
- cooperation and peace seen as more likely in this rules-based order
Institutionalism
- interested in cooperation between states in international institutions
- analyse design of international institutions and conditions under which states will participate
Assumptions of LI
- globalisation increases interdependence between states
- more power sources are relevant
- cooperation between states is possible
- More actors are relevant
- change in the international system and state behaviour is possible
Factors explaining globalisation in LI
- technological progress
- global economic activity
- political decisions
=> increasing interconnectedness leads to interdependence - Kofi Annan - Problems without passports
Role of non-governmental organisations
Advocacy and advice
- representing common good interests and other marginalised voices
- policy research, public information, “side events”
- campaigns - eg establishment of international criminal court, Ottawa treaty
Watchdog
- controlling state and business compliance with international rules
- public shaming
Operational
- delivery of humanitarian and development aid
- PPPs: fair trade and eco labels
More sources of power are relevant
- hard power sources
- military capabilities and economic leverage
- soft power sources
- power of persuasion (cultural, diplomatic..), influence
- bargaining power
- will, resolve and strong preferences
Relevance of domestic actors in LI
States are rational and pursue their own preferences
- preferences come from:
- civil society organisations
- public opinion
- lobby groups
International bargaining
- each state has a position in transnational distribution of preferences
- compatibility of preferences determines state interaction:
- converging preferences - increased likelihood of cooperation and peaceful coexistence
- incompatible preferences - increased likelihood of conflict
Barriers to cooperation
- Lack of information about state preferences
- fear of defection by other state
- free-riders
- high costs of cooperation
Why would states cooperate + what leads to cooperation
- absolute gains and solving collective actions problems
- shadow of the future
- international institutions overcome cost of cooperating
- Long shadow of the future (long-term goals)
- Collective action problems
International institutions
Umbrella term
- overarching framework for interactions among states and other actors
Consists of
- international regimes - norms and rules within an issue area
- international organisations - formal entities that facilitate cooperation (three or more member states, plenary meeting at least every 10 years, permanent secretariat and correspondence address)
Role of international organisations
- set and normalise rules and procedures for interactions between states
- forum of information-sharing and bargaining between states, overcoming mistrust between states
- dispute settlement
- monitor and enforce compliance
Critique of LI
- overemphasis on liberal institutions
- e.g. war in Yugoslavia - NATO intervened; Covid - WHO = bigger countries got vaccines sooner
- doesn’t take into account personalities of leaders
- post-colonial critique: western-centric view on the global system & universality of liberal values justifying intervention
- masculine conception of power, nation state and international system
- perpetuation of global inequalities
- assumption of rationality and anarchy
Kentian triangle
- democratic government (democratic peace theory)
- economic interdependence
- international law and organisations (role of mediators and allow information sharing)
- to overcome security dilemma
Democracy and democratic states
Democratic peace theory
- democracies are less likely to go to war against each other
WHY?
- norms
- conflicts to be resolved peacefully by negotiation and compromise
- institutions
- leaders are held responsible through democratic institutions (costs often outweigh benefits)
- democracies can still be in conflict especially with autocracies (USA + Iraq, USA + Cuba, China + Taiwan)
Democracy and democratic states
- democracies are less likely to go to war
- democracies
International trade
Not always successful
- FRA and GER = success
- GER and RUS gas = fail (due to asymmetric relationship - Ger has no gas so heavily depended on Russian)
Critique
- third actors can cooperate (money laundering, diseases…)
- asymmetric interdependence (cooperation between bigger and smaller countries)
International organisations
3 elements an NGO has to have
- permanent secretariat
- at least 3 members
- meet at least once in 10 years
Critique
- depend on peaceful relationships between countries to be effective
