The Liberal Paradigm in International Relations
The Liberal Paradigm in International Relations

Summary/Abstract: Liberals contend that international relations are evolving towards greater morality and the creation of conditions for freedom, well-being, success and justice. Human beings are by nature good and the fact that they do not always behave in accordance with the principles of morality is a result of the social conditions in which they happen to live. In international relations ethical standards and legal constraints on the use of force for self-aggrandizement are of major importance. Development is driven by modernization which has been in progress since the 18th century bringing improvement in the morality and wellbeing of mankind. It was set in motion by the scientific revolution reinforced by a liberal intellectual revolution. The end-result of development is liberal democracy or republican government, international interdependence, advances in the sphere of knowledge, international social integration, and international institutions.

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