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Liberalism and International Relations Theory

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Classical Liberalism and International Relations Theory

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Abstract

The four classical liberals had a number of common ideas on the timeless issues of international relations such as war and peace, trade, international law, and the balance of power. This allows for the presentation of a synthesis in the form of a comprehensive classical liberal theory of IR, which is very different from the current accounts of liberalism in IR theory. A caveat applies, though; the preceding analysis only allows the presentation of the contours of the theory. It must be acknowledged that almost any individual element of the theory could be further elaborated, but this would require chapter-length treatments. That is beyond the scope and intention of the present chapter and of this book.

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  1. Edwin van de Haar
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© 2009 Edwin van de Haar

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van de Haar, E. (2009). Liberalism and International Relations Theory. In: Classical Liberalism and International Relations Theory. Palgrave Macmillan History of International Thought Series. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230623972_7

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