Liberal & Socialist Internationalism
Political Studies: Edexcel A Level, topic 19.1.5
Liberal Internationalism
Building on internationalism, liberal internationalism stresses the common interests of humanity over those of the nation-state.
International institutions
- Nation-states, while retaining sovereignty, are supplemented by international agreements and institutions, such as the United Nations and the European Union.
- International institutions aim to foster peace, cooperation and economic prosperity between nation-states.
- Efforts to combat climate change, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement, are examples of liberal internationalism.
Liberal internationalism and the US
- Liberal internationalism has been linked to attempts to spread liberal democratic values through the foreign policy of countries such as the United States.
- The liberal international order is often seen as closely linked to US economic, military and diplomatic influence.
- Efforts to promote peace and stability in some regions, whether militarily or diplomatically, have often been led by the United States.
The decline of liberal internationalism
- Some commentators argue that liberal internationalism has weakened because of rising nationalism, geopolitical rivalry and the UK's withdrawal from the European Union in 2020.
Socialist Internationalism
Within this strand of nationalism, the nation is less important than class. People can find greater solidarity with persons of the same class than the nation.
Socialist theory
- Socialist internationalism has its roots in the early theories of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
- The international character of their doctrine has been evident from the outset of communism.
- The desire for a socialist society naturally cuts across national boundaries, as does the capitalist system that it seeks to replace.
- The international character of socialism is sustained by the commonality of inequality across nation-states.
Socialist internationalism today
- Following the decline of communism in the twentieth century, those on the left sought to bring about the end of capitalism via non-revolutionary means. Nations should work together to end capitalism and advance socialist principles.
- Like civic nationalism, common human values are central to socialist internationalism. This can limit the attractiveness of nationalism and nations.
- Unlike civic nationalism, one single international order is, for some socialist internationalists, highly desirable.
Test yourself on Liberal & Socialist Internationalism
Which of the following is not an international institution?
Which statement is false regarding liberal internationalism?
Which of the following are important in socialist internationalism?