PSC 230
Introduction to International Relations
Baguio, Christian Erick
Borce, Jose Danilo II
Uy, Herlejhean Michelle
International Relations Theory Assigned: Liberalism
IR Theory Core Assumptions
Liberalism ● In International Relations (IR)
theory, liberalism equates to the
behavior and preference of the
state to cooperate with other
states in the name of moralistic,
and economic reasons.
● Liberalism does not favor the
state to be ‘too powerful’ in
militaristic measures because it
believes that a powerful state in
terms of armed forces, can also
be dangerous to its own citizens
in its domestic sense. This is also
similar to international relations;
liberalism does not want its own
or any state to be militarily robust
since this would create tension in
the neighboring countries.
● Liberals believe and promote the
Democratic Peace Theory. This
theory refers to the notion that
democratic states are unlikely to
go to war with each other than
Proponents/ Pioneers
● Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924),
the 28th president of the United
States of America is one of the
most influential and famous
examples of liberals in
international relations. He is
widely attributed for his
contributions as a founder of
the League of Nations, the first
intergovernmental organization
that sought to keep and
promote world peace. Wilson is
also best remembered during
the 1914 U.S. occupation of
Veracruz, which is
controversial because the
invasion was mostly backed by
the U.S. congress and that
there were calls to invade the
capital of Mexico, prompting
the annexation of it or making it
a protectorate. Wilson, as the
president of the U.S. withdrew
the forces due to his own
personal values, fear of
backlash by the public, and the
impracticality of it.
Sample Cases/ Illustration
1. Democracies are unlikely to go
to war with one another but are
likely to be aggressive toward
non-democracies – such as when
the United States went to war
with Iraq in 2003. Favorable
views of the United States
decreased significantly worldwide
because the invasion was
undertaken unilaterally (outside
established United Nations rules)
in a widely deemed illegitimate
move.
2. The European Union placed an
arms sale embargo on China
following its violent suppression
of pro-democracy protesters in
1989. The embargo continues to
this day.
3. The absolute gains and
opportunities offered by trade,
together with preferences for
self-determination and
non-interference, acted as a
restraint on US expansionism
PSC 230
Introduction to International Relations
their dictatorial counterparts
because: (1) democratic states
are characterized by internal
restraints on power in their
domicile and (2) democracies
tend to see each other as
legitimate and unthreatening.
● The Liberal World Order has three
interlocking factors;
○ (1) international law and
agreements – to create an
international system that
goes significantly beyond
one of just states.
○ (2) spread of free trade
and capitalism – prevents
the occurrence of war
since it creates an open,
market-based,
international economic
system.
○ (3) liberal international
order – international and
liberal norms where
international cooperation,
human rights, democracy
and rule of law are favored
● Neoliberal Institutionalism or
neoliberalism, the new school of
liberalism, believes that if
countries work together and play
● Daniel Dudney (1953) is an toward Mexico in the most
American political scientist and imperial periods in world history.
a professor of political science
at Johns Hopkins University in
Baltimore, MD. He graduated
from Yale University in 1975,
had his masteral degree from
George Washington University,
and graduated from Princeton
University with a masters and
doctorate degree. Together
with G. John Ikenberry, they
wrote the book ‘The Nature
and Sources of Liberal
International Order’ in 1999,
presenting the three
interlocking factors of liberal
world order.
● Gilford John Ikenberry or much
better known as John Ikenberry
(1954) is an American
international relations theorist.
He is also a professor of
politics and international affairs
at Princeton University. He got
his degree from Manchester
University and Indiana and his
doctorate from the University of
Chicago. Together with Daniel
Dudney, they wrote a book in
1999 that presented the three
interlocking factors of liberal
world order.
PSC 230
Introduction to International Relations

their role in mutual agreements,

then they would reap the benefits
of absolute gains. It means that
every party that is involved, would
receive their part because of their
cooperation. However, if countries
would not cooperate with each
other and not fulfill their duties,
then their relationship would be
damaged, and eventually, be
destroyed. Liberals fear this since
they believe that a large and
powerful government could be at
the expense of the rights and
interests of the people.
● The core argument of liberalism is
that concentrations of
unaccountable violent power are
the fundamental threat to
individual liberty and must be
restrained.
● Restraining of power could be
achieved through institutions and
liberal norms; institutions such as
the United Nations, the World
Bank, the alliances that are
created within states and liberal
norms that although unwritten, are
known to states just like any other
individuals. Liberals fear this
since they believe that a large and
PSC 230
Introduction to International Relations

powerful government could be at

the expense of the rights and
interests of the people.