In international relations theory, liberalism is a social school of thought that emerged in the 1970s. According to political theory, the state is not subject to the internal or external authority of the military or other internal authorities (Sørensen et al., 2021). Furthermore, understanding the elements of liberalism has become even more crucial due to the development of communication and transportation technologies throughout the latter decades of the 20th century. However, this task critically examines the principles of liberalism in international relations and its strengths and weaknesses.
Conferring to theorists, the fundamentals of liberalism in international relations are as follows. First, the role of international law, according to proponents of liberal political theory, is one of moderation. In contrast to state or national legal systems, international law primarily applies to nations and their leaders rather than their individuals. The decisions of the International Court of Justice, which the United Nations Charter founded, are enforceable against States that have ratified a treaty and acknowledged its authority (Russett, 2020). Liberal theorists hold that states may cooperate to maximize wealth and reduce conflict with the correct diplomacy and governmental institutions—a beneficial advantage for state actors.
Second, the Liberal theory holds that power should be measured or accumulated through state economies, political freedoms, and rights, as well as the potential for peace and cooperation, as opposed to the aggression of realist theory, which assumes that power or military might is, or should be, the primary goal of political action (Martill, 2020). It contends that the termination of international hostilities and the extent to which democracies have overcome violent inclinations are the finest indicators of human development throughout history. Even when states consolidate their power and pursue economic advancement through the spread of free trade and market capitalism, those diplomats who comprehend and uphold liberalism to represent their state provide the prospect of peace.
Third, based on the democratic peace theory, wars between democracies are extremely uncommon. Overall, democratic administrations place a strong emphasis on preserving internal stability and ensuring that the requirements of their various populations in terms of social, political, and economic issues are met (Sørensen et al., 2022). Following the democratic peace theory, the growth of democracy will increase global peace as democratic political institutions prevent governments from starting wars without the public’s approval. Moreover, the accountability of diplomats and government representatives to the people they serve or the legislative government is crucial to preserving world peace (Jackson et al., 2018).
Professionals need to be familiar with the liberal theory of democratic peace and the motivations behind pursuing peace among democratic governments. A democratic state’s potential loss of economic prosperity is one consideration, as are the leaders’ accountability in the event of a conflict and their responsibility to international diplomatic organizations like the United Nations and others.
The other fundamentals of liberalism include Institutional Liberalism, the Leverage of Nongovernmental Diplomats, the Potential Purpose of Cosmopolitanism, and the Rejection of Power Politics. Institutional liberalism promotes state-beneficial activities (such as commerce), decreases global concerns that can cause conflict, and offers chances for negotiation between states in the event of conflicts over economic or armaments control (Keohane, 2020). Institutions such as the European Union (EU), NATO, or the UN, from the standpoint of Institutional Liberalism, can improve the capacity of governments to keep track of other parties’ compliance (Sørensen et al., 2021). The ultimate objective is for states to view institutions as mutually advantageous; NATO is a prime example of this because it exploits transnational relationships to build a security community among Western nations.
Conferring to liberalism, nongovernmental organizations and international organizations can influence state choices, similar globalization, and public policy. As per liberal views of international politics, multistate political structures and nongovernmental organizations impact foreign policy to foster global collaboration (Sørensen et al., 2021). This was initially observed after World War II, when liberals looked to international organizations and diplomats to do several tasks that the state could not complete in the aftermath of the war, such as defending human rights. A neutral and nonpartisan organization can give unprejudiced care and assistance across all physical and ideological borders during conflict, war, or unrest (Eadeh & Chang, 2019). For instance, Amnesty International assists citizens worldwide and reminds authorities to uphold and respect human rights.
Cosmopolitanism is the belief that all people are connected to a single community through a shared moral code. Putting the individual at the center of moral concern rather than the state is the goal of cosmopolitanism (Burley, 2017). Over time, the society of states—or a collection of states or governments—will change into societies of people, where international boundaries disappear, nationalism is abandoned, and people start to see themselves as citizens of the world rather than as citizens of specific countries in the traditional sense. All people tend to share a similar moral or ethical code, regardless of ideology, nation, or race; for example, it is generally accepted that murder is morally wrong and that the aged and infirm should be treated with respect (Keohane, 2020). Therefore, Cosmopolitan morality can be attained through the application of logic and the establishment of democratic nations.
Lastly, based on the theory of power politics, sovereign states can utilize military, political, or economic threats to further their objectives. International relations are seen through the prism of power politics, which emphasizes rivalry and self-interest. Power-hungry nations compete to control the world’s resources, and the winner takes the spoils. However, the intentional rejection of power politics and the priority of cooperative policies that do not require conflict or aggression is a fundamental principle of liberalism (Jackson et al., 2018). Aspiring diplomats and political professionals develop a better knowledge of international collaboration and how compromise results in more positive outcomes than conflict by avoiding power politics.
The following are some benefits of liberalism in international affairs. Individual liberty and equality are largely promoted by liberalism, a broad spectrum of political ideas and philosophies, as being the most significant of all political objectives (Viotti and Kauppi, 2019). Liberals strongly focus on personal freedom and opportunity for all, particularly regarding social and political issues. Liberalism generally backs constitutional liberalism. Constitutional liberalism includes the defense of the fundamental right to freedom of expression, checks on state power, and a fair and equal electoral process; the latter is referred to as liberal democracy (Jackson et al., 2018). Liberalism has its roots in the age of enlightenment when many political philosophers rejected institutionalized political ideas about governance, including the Divine Right of Kings, hereditary dominance, religious interference in public affairs, and the protection of private interests over those of the people.
Additionally, political and civil rights Liberals generally promote the defense and respect of each person’s civil and political rights. The law equally protects these rights. Liberals support equality regardless of gender, class, economic status, or race. Liberals in the US and Europe support pro-choice campaigns for women’s reproductive health rights, domestic abuse, and equal treatment in the workplace (Jackson et al., 2018). Certain liberals frequently support the rights of gays.
Liberalism possesses the following weakness on nations, according to theorists. Firstly, the “norms and rules-based” order that now governs the world was not simply the result of Western moral superiority or something that all people automatically accepted (Martill, 2020). Rather, it was also the result of the West, and in particular, the United States, assuming an unchallengeable position of economic and military power structure following the fall of its sole political, economic, military, and ideological competitor.
Secondly, instead of being solely the result of a morally righteous and inevitable historical march forward, democratization was a result and a shaper of the power dynamics at the end of the 20th century (Martill, 2020). As a concept, it has been undermined by a sense of injustice, increased elite capture, and rampant commercialization that snuffed out the freedom that open nations were intended to provide to their citizens, creating a favorable environment for their evil (Parmar, 2018). Last but not least, the disparities created by the free market made liberal democracies more vulnerable due to their geopolitical repercussions, including the establishment of internal constituencies invested in economic relationships with illiberal nations, energy dependence on them, and corrupt money flows.
In conclusion, liberalism is a social school of thought that emerged in the field of international relations theory in the 1970s. According to political theory, the state is not subject to the military or other internal or external authorities, such as other states. Rejecting power politics is one of the seven pillars of liberalism, along with democratic peace theory, the potential goal of cosmopolitanism, international cooperation, the influence of nongovernmental diplomats, and institutional liberalism. The liberal approach to international affairs has the advantages listed below. They support equality and individual freedom, favoring individual freedoms and private property and advocating for limited constitutional government. However, they have limitations, such as Ignoring power, promoting the decline of democracy, and using the illusion of interdependence.
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