major conceptual ideas of Liberals about IR

Critically assess the major conceptual ideas of Liberals about International Relations

Generally speaking liberalism highlights the individual rights and equality of opportunity, and yet in broader sense, liberalist supports the idea of peace and liberty in international relations. In order to assess the major concept of liberalism about international relations, this essay will critically evaluate on liberalists’ ideas about the state intervention in a relation to free market or mixed economy. Then it ill discuss about a free interstate relations, such as creating international institutions for mutual cooperation.

Firstly, Liberals thought had its roots in Enlightenment thinking, John Lockes ‘natural law’ implying a limited government, and Adam Smiths interpretation of free markets under capitalism. In addition the distribution of power amongst a range of actors rather than solely the state, and in terms of economy classic liberalists sought that state intervention should be kept at a minimum. Liberal states such as arguably the USA, champion these values as well as the belief that the domestic character of states plays a crucial role in shaping their international behaviour. Examples of this may be seen in US-Latin American relations – for instance their market orientated government reforms (Woods, 2004:172).

Furthermore, Liberals focussed on the idea that an imbalance or a misuse of power as well as undemocratic state leaders had essentially corrupted the nature of international relations. Additionally, early liberalist thought and also believed that more promotional and beneficial system of international relations can be achieved through free markets, of people and product. Reason and constitutional states were an important factor of promoting a more peaceful and co-operative system of international relations (Baylis and Smith, 2005:195). Critically from a realist perspective gives the importance rather to ‘power politics’ of national interest and state survival in the global system ...

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Finally, modern liberalist focused on the importance of international institutions. A key idea of Liberal thought centres around its support for not infringing human rights, however the role of emphasis on free market economies and private ownership essentially shifts the concentration of wealth. In other words, power to the hands of the few wealthy ‘elite’ subsequently leaving out the focus of universal human rights to those who do not hold such positions. However it may further be argued that the concentration on such free markets is a positive initiative because it distributes wealth which may then be ‘trickled down’ to the poorer people within society and can also then avoid the evils of state intervention (Pettiford, 2005:46).

To conclude, although liberalists might seem to be egoistic since they emphasize on preserving individuals rights and interest, instead of concerning about the national benefit as a whole, to a certain extent, liberalism is indeed more realistic since it encourages the competition of a free market to enhance the global living standard as well as supporting the role of international institutions for mutual and peaceful international relations. Therefore, it can be said that the political liberalism offers and lays out an optimistic view of cooperation, based on institutions in international politics. (515 words)

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