#S8.1Conol, FG
LIBERALISM
The theory of liberalism dates back as early as the time of Sun Tzu in Ancient China and has been a counterpoint to realism since then (Goldstein, 2004, pg.75). It was during the wake of the First World War that the need to prevent conflict became more urgent than ever thus a stride towards making reason prevalent was made (Steans and Pettiford, 2005, pg.21). It also was the optimism of the International Scholars of the cooperation among states and the realization of a just order that created the League of Nations which had in them the ideology of idealism despite the conflict during the World War I (Steans and Pettiford, 2005, pg.22). In line with this, also after the World War 2, it was the ideology of liberalism that created the United Nations.
Furthermore, the prominent philosopher of liberalism is Immanuel Kant. In 1975 in his essay perpetual peace where systematic actions and thoughtful accounts of the problems of world peace was produced by him (Steans and Pettiford, 2005, pg.21). Moreover, Kant argued that perpetual peace cannot be realized in an unjust world and that state of affairs could be overcome only if states found a ‘state of peace’. He envisaged a federation of free-states governed by the rule of law (Steans and Pettiford, 2005, pg.25).
Another philosopher of Liberalism is John Locke as he upheld the ideas of the natural rights – which promotes the “life, liberty, and property”. This is what scholars then called as the political theory of liberalism. He also stressed the importance of respect for individual rights, passing laws that guarantees individual freedom and liberty and those that prevent infringing upon these liberties.
REFERENCES:
FORSYTHE FAMILY PROGRAM ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS. (2007). JOHN LOCKE AND LIBERALISM. RETRIEVED FROM: HTTP://WWW.UNLHUMANRIGHTS.ORG/01/0102/0102_06.HTM
STEANS, J., PETTIFORD, L. (2005). INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS PERSPECTIVE AND THEMES 2ND ED. HARLOW, ENGLAND: PEARSON EDUCATION LIMITED.
GOLDSTEIN, J. (2004). INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS BRIEF 2ND ED. UNITED STATES: PEARSON LONGMAN.
FORSYTHE FAMILY PROGRAM ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS. (2007). JOHN LOCKE AND LIBERALISM. RETRIEVED FROM: HTTP://WWW.UNLHUMANRIGHTS.ORG/01/0102/0102_06.HTM
STEANS, J., PETTIFORD, L. (2005). INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS PERSPECTIVE AND THEMES 2ND ED. HARLOW, ENGLAND: PEARSON EDUCATION LIMITED.
GOLDSTEIN, J. (2004). INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS BRIEF 2ND ED. UNITED STATES: PEARSON LONGMAN.