1. LG514: International Relations Theory in the New World Order Lecture 3: The Emergence of IR as an academic discipline Ken McDonagh School of Law and Government

2. Overview: The First-debate image The First-debate image Assessing the Interwar Liberals Assessing the Interwar Liberals Challenging the First debate image Challenging the First debate image Reassessing Interwar IR Reassessing Interwar IR Carr and the critique of Utopianism Carr and the critique of Utopianism Conclusion: The fall of Liberalism Conclusion: The fall of Liberalism

3. The rise of Liberal international theory Response to the breakdown of the 19 th Century ‘Balance of Power’ Response to the breakdown of the 19 th Century ‘Balance of Power’ Based on the ‘Harmony of interests’ Based on the ‘Harmony of interests’ Highlighted two key prescriptions: Highlighted two key prescriptions: Domestic politics Domestic politics Democratic – ‘people do not want war’ Democratic – ‘people do not want war’ International institutions International institutions An end to secret diplomacy and balance of power An end to secret diplomacy and balance of power Replace with open covenants and a ‘League of Nations’ Replace with open covenants and a ‘League of Nations’ Two strands: Markets and Ethics Two strands: Markets and Ethics “between the market view of human beings as consumers maximising their utilities and the ethical view of humans striving to realise their potential” Burchill, Ch 3 “between the market view of human beings as consumers maximising their utilities and the ethical view of humans striving to realise their potential” Burchill, Ch 3

4. Capitalism, trade, markets and International Politics Norman Angell The Great Illusion 1913 Norman Angell The Great Illusion 1913 “It is assumed that a nation's relative prosperity is broadly determined by its political power; that nations being competing units, advantage in the last resort goes to the possessor of preponderant military force, the weaker goes to the wall, as in the other forms of the struggle for life.” “It is assumed that a nation's relative prosperity is broadly determined by its political power; that nations being competing units, advantage in the last resort goes to the possessor of preponderant military force, the weaker goes to the wall, as in the other forms of the struggle for life.” Angell rejected this position as inherently flawed Angell rejected this position as inherently flawed Rather nations benefit by trade with each other and hence share an interest in peace and stability Rather nations benefit by trade with each other and hence share an interest in peace and stability Did not argue that war was impossible but rather irrational Did not argue that war was impossible but rather irrational

5. Rights, Democracy and International Politics Although the economic arguments of Liberalism were not enshrined in the post-war settlements, the ethical arguments had a greater degree of influence Although the economic arguments of Liberalism were not enshrined in the post-war settlements, the ethical arguments had a greater degree of influence Particularly Particularly Self-determination Self-determination Collective security Collective security Wilson and the Versailles Treaties Wilson and the Versailles Treaties

6. The Failures of Liberalism in the Inter-War Period The USA failed to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and as a result remained outside of the League of Nations The USA failed to ratify the Treaty of Versailles and as a result remained outside of the League of Nations Marked by weakness – Invasion of Abyssinia 1935 Marked by weakness – Invasion of Abyssinia 1935 Outbreak of Spanish Civil War in 1936 Outbreak of Spanish Civil War in 1936

7. The Failures of Liberalism in the Inter-War Period Self-determination – although new states emerged, with the exception of Czechoslovakia none established stable, liberal states by the outbreak of WWII Self-determination – although new states emerged, with the exception of Czechoslovakia none established stable, liberal states by the outbreak of WWII Given the injustice of the Versailles settlements, the Liberal rhetoric of the League of Nations was easily portrayed as cynical Given the injustice of the Versailles settlements, the Liberal rhetoric of the League of Nations was easily portrayed as cynical

8. Challenging the first debate Schmidt: “The orthodox interpretation of the interwar scholarship as essentially idealist is a fiction that cannot withstand much scrutiny” (1998, p452) Schmidt: “The orthodox interpretation of the interwar scholarship as essentially idealist is a fiction that cannot withstand much scrutiny” (1998, p452) Similar arguments in Ashworth (2006), Wilson (1998) Similar arguments in Ashworth (2006), Wilson (1998) Rather there is a much greater degree of continuity Rather there is a much greater degree of continuity The shift from Liberalism/Idealism to Realism is a shift in focus from Law and organizations to International politics defined in terms of military power The shift from Liberalism/Idealism to Realism is a shift in focus from Law and organizations to International politics defined in terms of military power Not the victory of one perspective over another Not the victory of one perspective over another

9. Reassessing interwar IR Dickinson The International Anarchy (1926) Dickinson The International Anarchy (1926) “Whenever and wherever the anarchy of armed states exist, war does become inevitable” “Whenever and wherever the anarchy of armed states exist, war does become inevitable” Bryce and Dickinson advocated the League of Nations as a partial solution to this ‘Security dilemma’ Bryce and Dickinson advocated the League of Nations as a partial solution to this ‘Security dilemma’ A challenge to the Juristic Theory of the state A challenge to the Juristic Theory of the state Pluralism – “Just as…the state was not supreme over all the constituent groups present in society…internationally the state was not completely sovereign with respect to every other state and non- state actor” (Schmidt 1998 P446) Pluralism – “Just as…the state was not supreme over all the constituent groups present in society…internationally the state was not completely sovereign with respect to every other state and non- state actor” (Schmidt 1998 P446)

10. Reassessing Interwar IR Potter and International Organisation Potter and International Organisation Argued that IO had been ignored by Political Scientists and left “chiefly [to]…the advocates of peace” (1923) Argued that IO had been ignored by Political Scientists and left “chiefly [to]…the advocates of peace” (1923) Highly critical of the ‘doctrine of sovereignty’ Highly critical of the ‘doctrine of sovereignty’ But, still argued for the state as the foundation of International organisation But, still argued for the state as the foundation of International organisation Based on Plurality and homogeneity Based on Plurality and homogeneity “doctrine of original agreement” “doctrine of original agreement” Similar arguments can be made for Woolf, Angell, Brailsford, Baker and Mitrany Similar arguments can be made for Woolf, Angell, Brailsford, Baker and Mitrany So where did the Utopian/Idealist image come from? So where did the Utopian/Idealist image come from?

11. The (dis)Harmony of Interests Utopian theory rested on the idea of an underlying ‘harmony of interests’ Utopian theory rested on the idea of an underlying ‘harmony of interests’ Carr argued that this idea failed to take into account the realities of politics: Carr argued that this idea failed to take into account the realities of politics: Politics as conflict between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ over scarce resources Politics as conflict between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ over scarce resources Law/morality is always in the hands of the ‘haves’ Law/morality is always in the hands of the ‘haves’ The ‘have-nots’ will not act in accordance with laws/norms if they have a choice The ‘have-nots’ will not act in accordance with laws/norms if they have a choice

12. The effects of disharmony Carr argued in favour of appeasement on the grounds that the Versailles settlements caused instability by protecting the satisfied powers interests at the expense of others Carr argued in favour of appeasement on the grounds that the Versailles settlements caused instability by protecting the satisfied powers interests at the expense of others Failure to adjust the settlements to recognise the growth in German power would lead to war Failure to adjust the settlements to recognise the growth in German power would lead to war Liberalism in the inter-war period then, was at best naive and at worst a cynical attempt to institutionalise the interests of one group of states Liberalism in the inter-war period then, was at best naive and at worst a cynical attempt to institutionalise the interests of one group of states

13. Conclusion: The fall of Liberalism By the outbreak of WWII, the focus on institutions and law lost ground within the discipline of International Relations By the outbreak of WWII, the focus on institutions and law lost ground within the discipline of International Relations The shift in focus to International conflict and power in military terms gained in momentum The shift in focus to International conflict and power in military terms gained in momentum This is not necessarily a ‘paradigm’ shift, and “To continue to believe that liberalism was fatally discredited in the 1930s would be to grossly underestimate its intellectual resilience and the extent to which the countours of contemporary international relations have come to resemble its programme” Burchill, p65 This is not necessarily a ‘paradigm’ shift, and “To continue to believe that liberalism was fatally discredited in the 1930s would be to grossly underestimate its intellectual resilience and the extent to which the countours of contemporary international relations have come to resemble its programme” Burchill, p65 Why was Carr’s criticism so effective? Why was Carr’s criticism so effective?