Jahn, Beate (2009) Liberal internationalism: from ideology to empirical theory - and back again. International Theory, 1 (3). pp. 409-438. ISSN 1752-9727

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Abstract

This article shows that Andrew Moravcsik's 'nonideological' formulation of a liberal theory of international relations is itself deeply ideological both in terms of his own criteria and in terms of a broader conception of ideology. The source of this outcome lies in Moravcsik's mistaken conception of ideology. While ideological knowledge is indeed particular rather than general, it shares this feature with all political knowledge. In the political sphere, it is therefore not general knowledge that transcends the limits of ideology but rather an explicit engagement with these limits. A nonideological study of liberalism would thus require an historical account of the origins and development of liberalism in the context of its struggle with internal and external competitors. While such a study would not constitute a liberal theory of international relations in general, it would provide a general theory of liberal international relations and would thus be highly relevant in the context of a liberal world order.

Item Type:	Article
Schools and Departments:	School of Global Studies > International Relations
Depositing User:	Beate Jahn
Date Deposited:	06 Feb 2012 15:28
Last Modified:	25 Jul 2012 08:49
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/12695

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