Liberalism is important, but what is it?!
Ahh, Liberalism. Contrary to popular belief, it is in fact more than just the hopeful and non-depressing version of Realism.
Liberalism, as an ideology, began during the Age of Enlightenment in Europe. It was propelled forward by one of the greatest thinkers of all time, Immanuel Kant.
Liberalists argue that the world's states are intertwined due to globalization, and that interstate interactions - economic, social, cultural, diplomatic, etc. - are key to a successful and progressive world.
Liberalist theory holds that each individual state has a preference that embodies the interests of the people it represents.
Liberalists argue that democratic governments are stable and peaceful and do not war with each other (many theorists, most prominently Francis Fukuyama, argue that eventually all states will be liberal democracies because it is simply the best way to go!).
Liberalists believe in interstate and international organizations, such as the United Nations, the European Union, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, and any other international organization with a two-to-four letter acronym you can think of. These organizations work to build trust among member states, increase efficiency by decreasing unnecessary fear and overcautious behavior, and establish a course of action based on international law for all member states.
Liberalism, as a very prominent and popular school of international relations, has many different facets and subsets. While this page has outlined the basic and most fundamental pillars of Liberalist thought, visit the theorist pages to gain a more in-depth look into which minds made Liberalism what it is today, and how they're all different.
Liberalism, as an ideology, began during the Age of Enlightenment in Europe. It was propelled forward by one of the greatest thinkers of all time, Immanuel Kant.
Liberalists argue that the world's states are intertwined due to globalization, and that interstate interactions - economic, social, cultural, diplomatic, etc. - are key to a successful and progressive world.
Liberalist theory holds that each individual state has a preference that embodies the interests of the people it represents.
Liberalists argue that democratic governments are stable and peaceful and do not war with each other (many theorists, most prominently Francis Fukuyama, argue that eventually all states will be liberal democracies because it is simply the best way to go!).
Liberalists believe in interstate and international organizations, such as the United Nations, the European Union, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, and any other international organization with a two-to-four letter acronym you can think of. These organizations work to build trust among member states, increase efficiency by decreasing unnecessary fear and overcautious behavior, and establish a course of action based on international law for all member states.
Liberalism, as a very prominent and popular school of international relations, has many different facets and subsets. While this page has outlined the basic and most fundamental pillars of Liberalist thought, visit the theorist pages to gain a more in-depth look into which minds made Liberalism what it is today, and how they're all different.