1. POLI 140: Mar. 7, 2017
Lecture #3: Liberalism

2. Announcements First paper is on the question:
“Which is a more compelling theory of International Politics, Realism or Liberalism?”
There will be some additional reading on the website, you will have two more weeks.
Due 3/21
No Class this Thursday (3/9)
Watch the two remaining parts of “Commanding Heights”, episodes 2 and 3

3. Paradigms in International Politics
Realism
Balance of power theory
Human nature as basically hostile
Liberalism
Liberal institutionalism
Human nature as basically peaceful

4. What is liberalism?
liberalism is "a paradigm predicated on the hope that the application of reason and universal ethics to international relations can lead to a more orderly, just, and cooperative world, and that international anarchy and war can be policed by institutional reforms that empower international organizations and laws“ – Kegley and Wittkopf
liberals believe that significant global cooperation is possible and that we can move beyond the power politics at the heart of the realist paradigm.

5. Are the realists correct?
Does the realist view of international politics match reality?
Perhaps somewhat, but not entirely
Theory of international relations known as “liberalism” argues that while there is mistrust between states, there is also commerce and international cooperation in many areas, which Hobbes would not have predicted.
Why?

6. Liberalism
Liberals argue that it is possible to overcome the consequences of anarchy.
While folks might not be naturally peaceful, they aren’t as awful as Hobbes thinks
We do care about others and desire peace
Self-interest leads people to recognize value in cooperation
Liberals agree that states are self-interested/rational
Logic of prisoner’s dilemma remains true, but liberals want to “change the game”

7. Liberal Institutionalism
The dangers of anarchy provides strong incentives to find a way out.
Negotiation, diplomacy can lead to cooperation
Treaties/Orgs create “repeated games” that provide incentives for fairness & trustworthiness
Norms influence behavior
Multi-player game, not two-player – defecting is a signal that you are a defector
Reciprocity allows for accountability
Monitoring is possible to check for cheating

8. Institutions International Organizations seek to enforce global norms
While there is no “global government” there are arenas for global politics
G-7, United Nations, World Trade Organization, World Bank, etc…
Liberalism focuses on power as collaborative and institutional power, not merely coercion.

9. Liberal Institutionalism in Action
“Concert of Europe” after Napoleon
Diplomacy helped create peace and prosperity in Europe
But….degenerated and led to First World War
But! Isn’t that liberal’s point? Breakdown led to war.
Cold War – even bitter rivals could cooperate
SALT treaties to lower nuclear warhead count

10. SALT Treaties

11. Global Warming
Very hard to see this stopping from a realist perspective
Liberal is more hopeful
Self-interest leads to cooperation
Monitoring allows for enforcement
Norms allow for pressure
Liberalism does not posit need for altruism, but argues that self-interest leads to cooperation.

12. Complex Interdependence Theory
Realist perspective too simplistic according to CIT
Multiple channels connect societies
IGOs and NGOs connect below gov-to-gov level
No clear hierarchy of issues
Security is not always dominant goal
Military force is often considered not viable
Many issues w/ allies have little to do w/ security
Humanitarian missions, health issues, for example
Complex interdependence focuses on broader range of actors and interests
Realist focuses on single actor (state), single goal (security), single driving force (power).

13. IGO’s
IGO’s (International Governmental Organizations) exist to facilitate diplomacy, promote dialogue, and enforce internationally agreed to global norms
United Nations
World Trade Organization
International Criminal Court
World Bank
European Union (basically an international government)

14. Complex Interdependence Theory
Whereas realism pictures states as billiard balls, CIT pictures them with a web of connections
Many issues less difficult than security, allows for easier collaboration
“liberal” democracies have a common interest in pushing for “liberal” values
Trade, human rights, democracy, peace
Globalization, in large part, a result of liberal success
Based on Immanuel Kant’s “Perpetual Peace”
Wilson’s 14 points
European Union
Democratic Peace Theory – liberal democracies don’t go to war against each other

15. Democratic Peace Theory
Among proponents of the Democratic Peace Theory, several factors are held as motivating peace between liberal states:
Democratic leaders are forced to accept culpability for war losses to a voting public;
Publicly accountable statesmen are more inclined to establish diplomatic institutions for resolving international tensions;
Democracies are less inclined to view countries with adjacent policy and governing doctrine as hostile;
Democracies tend to possess greater public wealth than other states, and therefore eschew war to preserve infrastructure and resources.

16. Democratization around the world

17. Is liberalism just hidden realism?
In the 19th century, “trade followed the flag”. In other words, colonialism would lead to trade between colonized countries and colonizer.
Commerce and international organizations are examples of “liberalism” in international politics, but are they merely another form of realism.
Are they another form of hidden colonialism that the powerful use to control the weak?
WTO enforces free trade rules on countries, World Bank enforces austerity measurements on countries, United Nations is controlled by security council

18. International Liberalism
Liberalism and globalization
Reactions against globalization are often reactions against “liberal values” that place individual self-interest and the rights of individual self-expression above others threatening to erode traditional values.
Realism and power politics may preserve traditional difference and division better
Realists see liberalism as misguided, dangerous idealism
CIT misses big picture, power underlying dynamic still
When power and other issues are at stake, power will win
States that put their faith in institutions and not self-help will eventually regret it

19. The End