Book contents
- Understanding International Security
- Reviews
- Understanding International Security
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Brief Contents
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 International Security: The Historical Evolution of a Discipline
- Part I Security in Theory
- 2 Realism(s)
- 3 Liberalism(s) and International Security
- 4 Making the Quest for Security “Scientific”: Rational Choice and Game Theory
- 5 Making the Quest for Security “Scientific”: Rational Choice and Peace Science Research
- 6 Constructivism
- 7 Critical Security Studies
- 8 Human Security
- Part II The Traditional Security Agenda
- Part III A Wider and Deeper Security Agenda
- Glossary
- References
- Index
- References
3 - Liberalism(s) and International Security
from Part I - Security in Theory
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 October 2025
Book contents
- Understanding International Security
- Reviews
- Understanding International Security
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Brief Contents
- Contents
- Preface
- 1 International Security: The Historical Evolution of a Discipline
- Part I Security in Theory
- 2 Realism(s)
- 3 Liberalism(s) and International Security
- 4 Making the Quest for Security “Scientific”: Rational Choice and Game Theory
- 5 Making the Quest for Security “Scientific”: Rational Choice and Peace Science Research
- 6 Constructivism
- 7 Critical Security Studies
- 8 Human Security
- Part II The Traditional Security Agenda
- Part III A Wider and Deeper Security Agenda
- Glossary
- References
- Index
- References
Summary
In this chapter we explore the central features of liberalism as they relate to issues of international security and how liberalism believes states can work together to achieve security. First, we examine the historical evolution of liberalism generally before going on to dissect the central features of liberalism related to security. For unlike realism, liberalism holds that the world need not be a place of continuous violent conflict; the international system can change, humanity can better itself. That said, realism and liberalism share many of the same assumptions about international relations and international security. This chapter concludes with a look at how liberalism manifests itself in international security policy.
Keywords
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- Information
- Understanding International SecurityTheory and Practice, pp. 40 - 59Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025
References
Primary Sources
Doyle, Michael W. (1983a) “Kant, liberal legacies, and foreign affairs, part 1,” Philosophy & Public Affairs, pp. 205–235.Google Scholar
Deudney, Daniel and Ikenberry, G. John (1999) “The nature and sources of liberal international order,” Review of International Studies 25: 2, pp. 179–196.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Doyle, Michael W. (1983b) “Kant, liberal legacies, and foreign affairs, part 2,” Philosophy & Public Affairs, pp. 323–353.Google Scholar
Secondary Sources
Keohane, Robert and Nye, Joseph Jr., (1977) Power and interdependence: World politics in transition. Little, Brown & Company.Google Scholar
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