LIBERALISM

International
Relationship
Theory
DANNY KUNTO WIBISONO
202022055
International Relations Study Programme –
Universitas Prof. Dr. Moestopo
  Strong faith in human reason;
 Liberalism is the most commonly accepted alternative theoretical
perspective to Realism;
 Liberalism emphasize interdependence between states : Ties and
relationship between states have decreased the usefulness of
military power;
What is  Liberalism was developed in the 1970’s as many experts began to
argue that realism was an old concept;
Liberalism?  Due to Globalization, the rise of global communications and an
increase in international trade meant that states could no longers
rely on simple power politics to decide matters;
 Cosmopolitan morality rather than balance of power
 Humanity benefits from a peaceful international order – nations
can develop and trade which leads to progress
  Liberalism perspective to be dominant after WW1 and people have
psycologist traumatic because of war;
 Padangan positif tentang sifat manusia (Positive perspective of
Basic human nature);

assumption of  Keyakinan bahwa hubungan internasional lebih bersifat kooperatif

dari pada konfliktual (Believe that IR refer to cooperation, not
Liberalism in conflict);

IR  Percaya akan kemajuan (Believe of development and futuristic);

 Negara pada hakikatnya dibentuk oleh manusia, oleh karena itu
memiliki sifat dasar yang sama dengan manusia (State created by
human, and have same human nature);
 State in the world =
Wilson Analogy
Wild Animals

Wilson
Analogy
(famous with Isolated “Wild of If failed with “Wild
State” of state”
14 points of
Woodrow
Wilson)
Isolated with
Under International
agreement and put
Organization to
in zoo (international
manage and control
organization)
  Transnational corporations e.g McDonalds, Starbuck, Apple, Nike,
Adidas, Huawei, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
 NGO’s e.g. Catholic Church, Red Cross, Amnesty International,
Green Peace, CFOR, WWF, TII, etc
 Intergovernmental organizations e.g. United Nation (UN),
Non-state Actors European Union (EU), African Union (AU).
in global politics

 All important international connection across state boundaries;

  After WW2 all Libertarian think about Neoliberalism and have 4
branch :
New Era for  Sociological Liberalism,
 Interdependence Liberalism,
Liberalism  Institutional Liberalism and
 Republican Liberalism
  Keterlibatan banyak pihak (masyarakat, swasta, kelompok, individu, dsb)
dan pemerintah (Multiple channel related : society, company, communities,
individual) and government);
 Semakin kecil keterlibatan pemerintah maka akan menyebabkan semakin
meningkatnya hubungan antar-bangsa di dunia (More decrease
government involve make increase and smooth interconnection and
cooperation between states);
 Example : International Youth Conference;
Sociological  Menolak hubungan antar negara yang berdaulat saja;
Liberalism  Transnationalism-> membuat antar negara saling membutuhkan
 Transaksi individu ikut terlibat dalam isu-isu global;
 Kontrol sah-sah saja diluar negara;
 Sistem pluralis
 Tentang permasalah komunitas sosial;
 Hubungan yang saling ketergantungan dan tumpag tindih antar individu
  Perekonomian internasional yang meningkatkan interdependensi antar-
negara akan menekan dan mengurangi konflik kekerasan antar-negara
(International economics increase interdependence between states will push dan
reduce conflict between states);
 Semakin besarnya tingkat interdependensi dalam hubungan internasional
akan semakin mewujudkan perdamaian (More strength and increase of
interdependence will make world on peace);
 Aktor-aktor transnasional semakin penting, kekuatan militer merupakan
Interdependence instrument yang kurang berguna, dan kesejahteraan menjadi tujuan utama
bagi negara-negara. (All actors of transnational become very important, decline
Liberalism of military, and purpose 0f welfare is the main purpose for countries);
 Example : Uni Eropa
 Modernisasi dapat meningkatnya interdepensi antar negara
 Definisi keamanan tidak hanya pertahanan dan kekuatan militer tetapi
keamanan ekonomi. Keamanan ekonomi menentukan kemampuan militer
dan berkaitan
 Interdependensi memang baik akan tetapi ada freeriders (numpang saja dan
tidak punya peran apapun);
  Adanya institusi internasional mampu mendorong dan
memajukan kerjasama di antara negara-negara; (International
organization were able to push and develop forward cooperation
between countries);
 Adanya organisasi internasional mampu menjadi seperangkat
aturan yang mengatur tindakan negara; (International
organization were able to be use as tools to manage and handle the
states)
Institutional  Dengan adanya institusi internasional akan membantu
mengurangi rasa saling curiga antara negara yang satu dengan
Liberalism negara yang lain (no more Security Dilemma);
 Example : International regime such as WTO (World Trading
Organization) or Regional Organization like Uni Eropa, Asean, etc.
 Kritik : Basis legitimasi terlalu sempit dibandingkan dengan
tanggung jawab (terlalu lemah) contoh ; pasar keuangan intl
 Peran positif institusi
  Republican liberalism is an international relations theory which
claims that liberal democracies rarely (if ever) go to war or fight
each other, and in that sense are more peaceful. However, the
theory does not propose that democracies are more peaceful than
non-democracies, as many democracies are engaged in wars with
Republican non-democracies;
Liberalism  The theory holds that the reason for this intra-democratic peace is
rooted in the regime type of these countries (democracy) and the
existence of similar domestic political cultures, common moral
values, economic cooperation and interdependence
 I am thinking that Republican is part for Liberalism Propaganda 
  Aspect non-states as an IR’s actor.
 Optimistic view;
 Pro Human Rights and Democracy;

Advantages  Societies and states have become so connected by the end of the
2-th century that the way they relate to each others has changed
in significant ways
  States and their fortunes are connected with each other
 What happens in one state can have affect on another state
 Relations between two state can greatly affect relation between
Interdependence others states
 Haven’t states always been connected?
 Liberalism suggest a particular and specific kind of interdependence
characterized by modern international system
  Multiple Channels
In international politics there are multiple channels connecting the
societies, including all the interstate, trans-governmental, and
transnational transactions
Complex  Multiple Issues

Interdependence Security is not the most important issue. State and non-state actors
deal with a variety issues in a world with the line between domestic
and foreign policy is blurred. Any issue can be the most important
for a state
(Robert Keohane & Josep
Nye)  Decline in use and effectiveness of military force
Due to military cost being very costly and uncertain, it has begun
to decline in importance. It cannot be completely ignored, but it is
not the ultimate necessity to achieve survival
  If we just focus on state to state relations, then we miss a very
important part of global politics!
Complex Web of  State are not the only actors to have interest that drive their
Interconnections actions;
 Non-state actors have own goals and interest that may differ to
those of state;
  States are not only interested in military security
 Economic, ideological, religious and cultural issues are part of the
global agenda;
The global  Even issues that realist would see as purely domestic can have an
actors have a effect on the global system
 E.g. Environmental regulations may be adopted by a state to
variety of protect its own citizens but may affect trading partner if imports
interests must meet new regulations
 So domestic policy can become foreign policy as result of
connections between issues, channels and interdependence
between actors
The decline of
military
 Complex interdependence means
military force is not as effective or
frequently used as in the past;
 Many issues of concern to states and
non-state actors are not military –
climate change, carbon trading, human
right, human trafficking, etc.;
 Complete interdependence means
states are constrained in use of military
power because this power only harms
multiple interest of state and other
actors;
Mutiple
channels, States cooperate because it’s in
multiple issues
and decline in
their interest to do so ! or
military mean national interest !
that….
 States realize that hostile actions are likely to harm their interest
as much as those of any potential rivals
 The multiple channels that connect non-state actors constrain
states
 Even if leaders recognize security threats and want to employ
conflictual means, they often face resistance from public or
powerful interest groups
  In democracies, where opposition is legal and citizens can hold
Between their leaders to account, multiple channels are more likely to
constrain leaders from conflict;
Liberalism and  According to liberal theory, the effects of complex
Democracy interdependence will be more significant in a more democratic
world
  Spread of democrazy – decolonization
Other factors  Nuclear weapons – the risk !
for increase  End of WW2 – The end of facism in Germany and Japan,
complex Communism in Uni Soviet and China
 Wealth redistribution – Asian Tigers (Hongkong, Singapore, South
interdependen Korea and Taiwan), MNC’s
ce are…  Technological development as a result of globalization
 The theory of Liberalism is criticized on the following point :
 Interdependence or Dependence? Marxist critique on capitalism;
 Priorities the empirical evidence only from the developed countries
of the world particularly Europe;
 Will the same institutional features of cooperation be generated if
complex interdependence develops in South Asia, Central Asia,
Africa, or Latin America?
Criticism  Has war become totally irrelevant or obsolete? Prevalence of
international anarchy means that possibility of war remains in IR;
 Too much positives and cooperation;
 Statement of Republican Liberalism;
 Anomaly and Democratization through war;
 IR become complex and complicated and other state easy to
involve in internal conflict in other states;
 Liberalism on IR match with situation and geo-politics now
Liberalism on IR make multi-channel and complex in IR’s factor
Liberalism make “new interest and smooth way for national interest
Conclusion for each state on multi-state;
Pluralism of actors
Study case Iraq War