Unit 3: Liberalism (I), Apuntes de Relaciones Internacionales

¡Descarga Unit 3: Liberalism (I) y más Apuntes en PDF de Relaciones Internacionales solo en Docsity!

HISTORY AND THEORY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

3. Liberalism (I):

Idealism and Liberal Internationalism

Dr. Javier Morales [email protected]

Contents

3.1. The Liberal Tradition 3 .2. (Wilsonian) Idealism 3 .3. Liberal Internationalism

3 .1. The Liberal Tradition

• Antecedents:
  • Immanuel KANT (18th century): a world of constitutional republics ( Rechtstaat, rule-of-law states) will bring about international peace (essay Perpetual Peace, 1795).
  • Woodrow WILSON (US President, 1913-1921): 14 Points for Peace: "A general association of nations must be formed […] for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity […]” Æ League of Nations

3 .1. The Liberal Tradition

• Democratic peace theory: democracies do not wage wars against each other - Wars are not the result of the international balance of power, but of domestic political systems - In democracies, leaders are held responsible for their decisions Æ electoral losses will deter them from starting a war of aggression - Therefore, extending democracy will make the world more peaceful

3 .2. (Wilsonian) Idealism

• Assumptions :
  • War is not “natural”: it is a disease that can be cured, caused by aggressive leaders
  • Faith in the progress of human nature
  • Possibility of change
  • Rationalism and cosmopolitanism
  • More reasons for cooperation than competition (trade promotes peace)
• This approach collapsed with the League of Nations’ failure to prevent the 2nd World War

3 .3. Liberal Internationalism

• States have a responsibility to uphold liberal values and norms in the world - Human rights: universal values Æ international law - “Responsibility to protect” (R2P): a state is responsible for protecting its population from human rights abuses. If it does not, the international community has a duty to act (humanitarian aid, diplomatic pressure, intervention). http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org/ Promoted by UN, NGOs; but still not universally accepted as obligation under intl. law (ius cogens). Contradicts the principles of sovereignty and non- intervention in internal affairs.

3 .3. Liberal Internationalism

• Kosovo War (1998-1999):
  • Autonomous province in Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
  • Conflict: Kosovars (ethnic Albanians) vs Serbs
  • KLA: insurgent/terrorist group
  • Intervention by federal army Æ human rights abuses
  • Clinton Admin. argued for “humanitarian intervention”
  • Veto at UNSC (Russia, China)
  • NATO intervention
  • UN administration (UNMIK)
  • Declared independence in

3 .3. Liberal Internationalism

• Frontline: “Kosovo – War in Europe”. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kt7XIv32SRE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10r5SP8goXk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haGHwW8wV6M http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HbwP31AM4A
• NATO bombings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwHW9DsitF

3 .3. Liberal Internationalism

• “R2P in Crisis Following Syria Vote”, 6 February
  2012. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCaizDWiYTA

3 .3. Liberal Internationalism

• G. John IKENBERRY
• Professor of Politics and International Affairs, Princeton University
• Books: Liberal Order and Imperial Ambition; Liberal Leviathan

3 .3. Liberal Internationalism

• Realists have criticized this approach for involving the US in foreign conflicts in which it has no national interest - Stephen WALT: “No Hawks Here: When it comes to conflict in world politics, realists are the peaceniks of post-Cold War America” http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/04/17/no_hawks_here_reali sts_international_relations_war_peace

End of Lesson 3 – part I

Questions?

[email protected]