Set 3B — States vs. Nations & the Liberal International Order

What is a state?

A political-legal concept defined by a territory and population, with a national government that exercises internal and external sovereignty.

What is a nation?

A relatively large group of people who feel that they belong together because they share one or more traits, such as language, religion, race, history, tradition, customs, or a common destiny.

What is the difference between a state and a nation?

A state is a political-legal concept involving territory, population, government, and sovereignty; a nation is a psycho-cultural concept involving a shared sense of belonging.

Does every nation have its own state?

No. Not every nation has a state, and not every state contains only one nation.

What does “liberal” mean in the liberal international order?

Rules are applied to each country equally; countries are encouraged to become democratic and open their economies to the world; and dominant states spread democracy worldwide.

What does “international” mean in the liberal international order?

Every country around the world is encouraged to join and follow the rules.

What does “order” mean in the liberal international order?

An organized group of international institutions that help govern interactions among states and promote respect for borders and peaceful resolution of differences.

Why was the liberal international order developed?

It was developed in an effort to avoid repeating the Great Depression and the two world wars of the first half of the twentieth century.

When was the United Nations established, and what was its purpose in the slides?

1945; to promote peace between countries.

When was the World Bank established, and what was its purpose in the slides?

1944; to support global economic development.

When was the International Monetary Fund (IMF) established, according to the slides?

1944; it was intended to support investment and trade between countries.

What was the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), and when was it established?

An agreement established in 1948 to support investment and trade between countries.

How did the United States help power the liberal international order?

Its victory in World War II and booming postwar economy set an example for the world. The United States credited democracy and free markets for its success and encouraged other countries to become more democratic and open their economies to trade and investment.

What question do the slides raise about whether the liberal international order is truly liberal?

Whether an order that claims to apply rules equally is truly liberal, particularly given the power held by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and their ability to use the veto.

According to John Mearsheimer's argument in the slides, what must an order include to be international?

It must include all of the world's great powers; ideally, it would contain every country in the system.

What broader questions do the slides raise about the liberal international order?

Whether the order is truly liberal, whether it is truly international, and whether such an order really exists.

What question do the slides pose about the future of the liberal international order?

Should the United States continue its efforts to uphold the liberal international order, and what are the costs and benefits?