Liberalism Flashcards
Four strands of liberalism in IR
Sociological
Commercial or Interdependence
Republican
Institutional
Liberalism view of human nature in IR 
Unlike realism, it views human nature as logical, rational, cooperative.
Translating them to the nature and behaviour of nation-states in IR, liberalism views nation-states as self-interested and competitive, yet reasoned and rational actors. Hence, nation-states may adopt multiple ways to maximise their interests, both through power and force (as in realist perspective) and through cooperation and interdependence.
A realist principle that states are the sole actor in IR Is refuted by liberalism. True or false
True
It highlights the rising role of nonstate actors in IR . IGOs INGOs , MNCs , international institutions, web of people, groups are linked through multiple channels of in directions to manage the global governance without any world government
What is liberalism in IR
Liberalism, as theoretical perspective to IR, has been the main challenger to Realism.
Liberalism in international relations is closely linked to core liberal ideologies - universalism, individualism, rights, liberty, justice, toleration, minimal state, democracy, institution building, etc. Translating these liberal ideas into IR, liberalism advocates interdependence and cooperation rather than conflict and competition. Liberalism highlights peace, progress, cooperation, and interdependence among multiple actors in IR.
It places greater emphasis on proper institutional design to have some sort of global governance without any world Govt.
It believes in building trust, cooperation, integration through free trade, expansion of free market economy, democracy, and international regime and institutions. Hence, liberalism takes away focus in IR from power, security, competition, diplomacy, war, etc to material and functional interdependence, integration, and institution building.
Liberalism believes that by proper institutional design at international level and setting up robust international regime based on fair international laws, treaties, covenants, norms, etc. lasting peace, and progress can be brought despite the anarchy world order.
Liberalism, therefore, deals mainly in the domains of low politics’ that is related to economy, ecology, sociocultural, technological domains. It leaves aside the high politics* subjects such as power, security, war, diplomacy etc to realism. This is one criticism levelled against it.
Explain the 4 strands of liberalism
Sociological aspect of liberalism in IR
• Apart from relations between states, relation between individuals, groups, and people/societies- transnational social networks, global civil societies- also influences IR.
• Overlapping (interest which are common) and cross cutting (interests which are different) interdependent relation between peoples of different nation-states promote peace and cooperation.
Commercial or Interdependence
• Greater interdependence and integration through trade, commerce, investment
• As happened in globalization era.
• Increasing the economic cost of withdrawal from cooperative venture
• Example: trade sanctions, banning manufactures/producers of a particular nation-state. •
Increasing role of MNC/TNCs, Multilateral organizations, economic rather than military interests
• Multi-stakeholder global governance model.
• Theoretical bases: Functional Integration theory by David Mitrany; Complex Interdependence Theory by Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye.
•Republican
Democratic peace theory: less possibility of war between democracies due to their political culture of peaceful conflict resolutions, common moral values, common ties.
• More say/voice to different groups/people in democracy act like check and balance on the ruler in decisions, actions of the nation-state in global system.
• Institutional
• By proper institutional design, some sort of order, discipline, and global governance can be established in the anarchic world order which does not have any world government.
• Institutions help build trust and cooperation among states in the anarchic world order. They also may be able to regulate the behaviours of the member nation-states.
.
Help distribute gains of cooperation equitably and transparently. This further promote cooperation. Institutions stop cheating and free-rider problems in cooperative ventures at global level. Nation-states may trust and give their loyalty to the international organisation based on robust and fair institutional design.
• International organisations/Institutions provide information, platform to debate, express opinion, agreements, help settle disputes through dialogue.
Who gave that theory of functional integration
David mitrany
Who gave the Complex interdependence theory
Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye
Who are considered the founders of the neoliberal school of thought in IR
Robert O keohane
Stephen S Nye
Influential writings which helped make the neoliberal perspective influential in the contemporary period
“ After Hegemony’ by Robert Keohane,
‘
Rise of the trading state’ by
Richard Rosecrance,
hegemonic stability theory of Stephen Krasner and
the work of Charles P. Kindleberger,
What is the theoretical base of the neo liberal approach to IR
The complex interdependence theory- Robert and Joseph
What is neo liberalism in IR
Core theme of neo-liberal approach to IR is robust institutional design to mitigate the condition of anarchic world order, without any world government. Neo-liberalism excepts structure of global state system as anarchic, in which the interacting units (of the system), that is, the nation-states, have great variations in capabilities and relative power. However, instead of focusing too much on the structure of the state system, neoliberalism focuses more on the processes or interactions within and between the units (nation-states) to highlight the complex interdependence, multi-channel, multi-level transnational interactions, and positive impacts of institutional mechanism to promote cooperation, peace and progress even in the anarchic world order.
Neo-liberalism view states as rational actor who wants to maximise their interests in the global state system. But their interests are varied and cannot be solely defined in terms of power. Multiple factors, including domestic one, affect the formulation and definition of national interest. In neoliberalism perspective, states as rational actors are concerned more with absolute gain from corporation, interdependence, and membership of global institutions, then on relative gains. Also, the non-power and non-security gains and issues are also equally important component of national interest.
Similarities between neo liberalism and neo realism
Neo-liberalism has come much closer to neo-realism. Both the new versions of the twi most influential perspectives in IR emerged almost same time during 1980s. Both view thi global state system as anarchic in which the units (nation-states) have great variations it relative power and capabilities. However, neo-realism focuses more on this anarchi‹ structure of the system, neo-liberalism, on the other hand, focuses more on processes ir this anarchic system in terms of cooperation, interdependence, inter-connectedness, fret trade, investments, financial & functional integration, regional cooperation, institutiona mechanisms, and global regimes, norms, and standards of behaviour, etc. for mutual progress and development, and to solve shared problems. Neo-liberalism believes thai cooperation and complex interdependence along with robust institutional mechanism, and supportive international regime (international laws, treaties, norms, etc) may bring peace and stability in the anarchic global order even without any world government.
Hence, in a sense both neo-realism and neo-liberalism are part of the same realist paradigm.
They differ on the processes but both of them accept the structure of the anarchic global state system. They both focus on the international state system or system level as the unit of analysis. Both use empirical data, observations, other scientific tools and techniques to have a positivist approach (scientific enquiry, testable hypotheses, etc) in theory building enterprise.
Complex interdependence story by Robert and Joseph
Explained in their book ‘Power and Interdependence’ published in 1977. Further explained in ‘After Hegemony: Cooperation and Discord in the World Political Economy’ by Robert Keohane.
Interdependence in IR means mutual dependence in which actors/countries are affected by actions and reactions of one another.
Core principles: States are not the sole actor, social welfare/economic issue are as important as security issues, and cooperation is equally dominant characteristics as conflict in IR.
•Features of the Complex interdependence:
• Multiple and layered channels of interconnections:
• Inter-state: Formal interactions between nation-states through diplomatic relations. This is what realist approach focusses.
• Trans governmental: Informal interactions among governments and other
Govt agencies.
• Transnational: Interactions among NGOs, people/groups/communities, civil societies, MNC, etc
•Cobweb of multiple actors linked through multiple channels of interactions.
• In bi-lateral and multi-lateral interactions among states, absence of hierarchy among Issues on agenda table. Not only the power but non-power issues, such ecological, trade, commerce, etc, may also get preferences.
• Overlapping issues- no primacy to security/military issue.
• For example: suppose India and USA have high level dialogue, like 2+2.
Then the issues on agenda table don’t have any fixed hierarchy. It is not that only the security, arms supply, and other ‘high politics’ subject gets hugher priority. Issues of trade, investment, technology transfer, checking terrorism, etc may be higher on agenda table.
• Minor role of military power, force, and coercive diplomacy in resolving conflicts and problems in globalized world.
• For example, the problems of terrorism, climate change, pandemic, etc can only be solved by cooperation, and not by force and power.
• It has become core principle of neo-liberalism. It is halfway between realism and liberalism, between power politics and cooperation, between high and low politics.
Which theory has the hegemony in today’s world
Neoliberalism as political and economic ideology is having a hegemony in the today’s globalised world.
