What are the main themes of liberalism?
- Human beings can be improved
- Democracy is necessary for liberal improvement
Why do liberals reject the realist notion that war is the natural condition of world politics?
- Have a belief in progress
- So reject the realist notions that war is the natural condition of world politics
Do liberals question the realist idea that the state is the main actor in global politics?
Liberals question the realist idea that the state is the main actor in global politics
Individuals, MNCs, IOs are also central actors
How do liberals think of the state?
Liberals think of the state not as a unitary actor but as made up of individuals + their collective societal preferences
What is the state comprised of?
The state is comprised of a set of bureaucracies, each with its own interests .
Therefore, there is no such thing as one ‘national interest’
Why is there no such thing as one national interest?
- No such thing as one national interest
- Since it merely represents the result of whatever societal preferences or bureaucracies dominate the domestic decision-making process
Do liberals see national interests in more than just military terms?
Liberals see national interests in more than just military terms, encompassing economic, environmental + technological issues
Where does order in world politics emerge from?
- Order in world politics emerges not from balance of power
- But from interactions among many layers of governing arrangements
- Comprising laws, agreed norms, international regimes + institutional rules
Is sovereignty important?
- Sovereignty is not that important
- States have to negotiate with lots of other actors, hindering their freedom to act as they wish
Is interdependence between states important?
Interdependence between states is critically important
