2/10: liberalism and cooperation

core ideas of liberalism

• conflict is not inevitable

• states can cooperate under anarchy

• states care about prosperity

key assumption

states are rational and recognize shared interests

• states don’t just care about war, our goals do align

• still thinks states are rational

three things that liberalism emphasizes

• interdependence

• institutions

• democracy

  • recognizes human individuality and needs (thymos)

bottom line of liberalism

cooperation is common and explainable

differences between liberalism and realism

realism: fear, power, and relative gains

liberalism: absolute gains, cooperation, institutions

from liberalism to neoliberalism: what they kept and changed

keeps: anarchy, rational states, self-interest

changed: how cooperation works, why institutions matter

neoliberalism institutionalism: why are institutions important

• provides information

• reduce uncertainty

• monitor behavior

  • see which country is free-riding

  • track who cooperates and who behaves

• raises costs of cheating

misconception about cooperation in liberalism

cooperation doesn’t require trust

• still skeptical of other countries, not entirely trustworthy

neoliberal focus

absolute gains: power isn’t just military, but how connected they are and how trustworthy they are

• explains trade, environment, and arms control

the remaining problem of liberalism

if cooperation benefits everyone…

• fear of cheating

• incentives to defect

• uncertainty

• prisoner’s dilemma