This text concerns itself with answering two central questions of the democratic principle in the current arena of world politics. The questions are: Is international politics ultimately all about
power and interest, such that democracy
should
remain of marginal importance to international
relations?
And
If democratic states are ‘morally reliable’, do
we need democratisation of the international
system itself, or can we just rely on coalitions
of these ‘reliable’ states? The study of International Relations (IR) has long been concerned with Realpolitik, a form of
political realism, which puts the self-help (military power) and survival (interest) motives of
states at the centre of its inquiry to explain the structural realities of the anarchic international
system, which is seen to exist under a constant threat of war. (Waltz, 1979) [Market] liberalism,
on the other hand, opposes the realist tradition and aims for the emancipation of humanity. In the
liberal tradition, the authority of democratic nations and the proliferation of free-markets are
believed to need to extend to the international system, in order to bring about peace, security
(Fukuyama, 1989) and happy consumers. The Neo-conservatives within the US administration
seem to have embraced both realism and market liberalism and combined the two into a mesh
that is hard to disentangle. Therefore, an obvious observation of the current era of US hegemony
does indeed reaffirm that power and the interest of agencies in the international arena are
prominent attributes of international politics. Powerful states, such as the US in Iraq, wage
unilateral wars to secure their strategic interests and at the same time support market liberalism,
while the biggest beneficiaries, multinational corporations (MNCs), smile broadly in the
background. In this regard, it appears as if notions of democracy, power, and interest are not only
juxtaposed, but are in fact feeding on each other, perpetuating but one form of democracy – that
of market liberalism.
Table of Contents
1. Democracy in World Politics: Is international politics ultimately all about power and interest, such that democracy should remain of marginal importance to international relations?
2. If democratic states are ‘morally reliable’, do we need democratisation of the international system itself, or can we just rely on coalitions of these ‘reliable’ states?
Research Objectives and Themes
This work examines the tension between traditional power-based Realpolitik and the potential for transnational democracy, specifically exploring whether the international system can be democratized through cosmopolitan and deliberative approaches to overcome unilateralism and interest-driven global politics.
- Critique of Realpolitik and US hegemony in the context of market liberalism.
- Evaluation of cosmopolitan democracy across local, state, and global levels.
- Analysis of deliberative democracy as a mechanism for inclusive public sphere participation.
- Assessment of the "moral reliability" of democratic states regarding preventive war and international institutional reform.
- The necessity of democratizing international institutions like the UN and the Security Council.
Excerpt from the Publication
Is international politics ultimately all about power and interest, such that democracy should remain of marginal importance to international relations?
The study of International Relations (IR) has long been concerned with Realpolitik, a form of political realism, which puts the self-help (military power) and survival (interest) motives of states at the centre of its inquiry to explain the structural realities of the anarchic international system, which is seen to exist under a constant threat of war. (Waltz, 1979) [Market] liberalism, on the other hand, opposes the realist tradition and aims for the emancipation of humanity. In the liberal tradition, the authority of democratic nations and the proliferation of free-markets are believed to need to extend to the international system, in order to bring about peace, security (Fukuyama, 1989) and happy consumers.
The Neo-conservatives within the US administration seem to have embraced both realism and market liberalism and combined the two into a mesh that is hard to disentangle. Therefore, an obvious observation of the current era of US hegemony does indeed reaffirm that power and the interest of agencies in the international arena are prominent attributes of international politics. Powerful states, such as the US in Iraq, wage unilateral wars to secure their strategic interests and at the same time support market liberalism, while the biggest beneficiaries, multinational corporations (MNCs), smile broadly in the background. In this regard, it appears as if notions of democracy, power, and interest are not only juxtaposed, but are in fact feeding on each other, perpetuating but one form of democracy – that of market liberalism.
Summary of Chapters
1. Democracy in World Politics: Is international politics ultimately all about power and interest, such that democracy should remain of marginal importance to international relations?: This chapter analyzes the dominance of Realpolitik and market liberalism in international relations and proposes cosmopolitan and deliberative democracy as counter-models to represent the interests of the global populace.
2. If democratic states are ‘morally reliable’, do we need democratisation of the international system itself, or can we just rely on coalitions of these ‘reliable’ states?: This chapter critically evaluates the concept of 'moral reliability' in democratic states, arguing that relying on such coalitions is insufficient without the fundamental reform and democratization of international institutions.
Keywords
International Relations, Realpolitik, Cosmopolitan Democracy, Deliberative Democracy, US Hegemony, Moral Reliability, Transnational Democracy, Global Governance, Institutional Reform, Civil Society, Multilateralism, Preventive War, Sovereignty, Accountability, Global Constitutionalism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research?
The research explores whether international politics is strictly confined to power struggles and state interests or if democratic principles can be successfully integrated into the international system to foster global justice and accountability.
What are the core themes addressed in the work?
The central themes include the critique of power-centric realism, the definition of cosmopolitan and deliberative democratic models, the role of global civil society, and the legitimacy of international institutions like the UN.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine if concepts of transnational democracy can be effectively utilized to democratize international systems, thereby challenging the current dominance of state-centric power paradigms.
Which scientific methods and theoretical frameworks are applied?
The author employs a normative political analysis, drawing upon international relations theory, cosmopolitanism, and deliberative democratic theory to assess global political structures.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main text covers the interplay between democracy and global power, the specific mechanisms of cosmopolitan governance, the role of public deliberation in the international sphere, and the critical evaluation of "moral reliability" in the context of preventive military interventions.
Which keywords best characterize this publication?
Key terms include Cosmopolitan Democracy, Realpolitik, Transnationalism, International Institutional Reform, and Global Governance.
How does the author view the US role in global politics?
The author characterizes the current US era as one of hegemony that often merges realism with market liberalism, frequently leading to unilateral actions that undermine broader democratic international standards.
What is the author's stance on the concept of 'moral reliability'?
The author considers 'moral reliability' as a problematic criterion, noting that while it is used in institutional proposals regarding preventive war, it remains semantically and practically difficult to define, thus necessitating a broader democratization of institutions to ensure accountability.
- Quote paper
- Jan Lüdert (Author), 2006, Democracy in world politics, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/90076
