The paper revisits the traditional liberal claim that governments founded on respect for individual liberty tend to exercise restraint and peaceful intentions in foreign policy.
Examines three liberal traditions from theorists:
Schumpeter: Advocates democratic capitalism and liberal pacifism.
Machiavelli: Represents classical republicanism linked to imperialism.
Kant: Proposes a theory of internationalism explaining both peace and reasons for aggression.
Despite contradictions, liberalism leaves a coherent legacy on foreign affairs, promoting both peace and war tendencies among liberal states.
Liberal states are unique due to their separate peace and sometimes aggressive tendencies.
Differences in liberal traditions are rooted in varied conceptions of citizenship and state roles.
Key Theorists & Their Views
Joseph Schumpeter
Developed concepts of liberal pacifism.
His views are often invoked in discussions of democratic capitalism and non-aggression.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Classical republicanism linked to a glory-filled imperialism.
His ideas are often practiced and reflected in imperialistic tendencies.
Immanuel Kant
Liberal republican who best encapsulates the theory of internationalism.
His ideas predict a separate peace among liberal states but also warn of potential liberal aggression.
Liberalism's Dual Nature
Liberal governments are characterized by a paradoxical nature:
Peaceful: They tend to create a separate peace among themselves, as theorized by Kant.
Aggressive: They find liberal justifications for engaging in war.
Conclusion
The variance among liberal political theories is significant, not arbitrary.
Differences are deeply rooted in various understandings of the roles of citizens and states.
References
The paper references a wide array of works from influential scholars like Raymond Aron, Dean Babst, Michael Doyle, and many others to support its analysis of liberalism in world politics.
Essential works include studies on political power, international conflict, and philosophical foundations by theorists such as Kant and Machiavelli.