Analyze the principal characteristics of liberalism with reference to current developments in the ‘Arab spring’ critically examine the view that liberalism’s objectives and values are a form of western imperialism

Résumé du document

The current international context is very complex. The 21st century is characterized by an entanglement of complex relations and inter-dependence between States. In the international studies, we often say that the 21st century began when the Soviet Union disappeared. Indeed, during the Cold War years, the international relations among the Western countries escalated and when the Cold War ended by the fall of the Soviet Union, the liberalism blossomed and reached a peak.

During this period, there were for a start several critics – mainly by supporters of the communism – about the liberalism which was considered as a form of Western Imperialism. The liberalism was theorized by some philosophers during the Enlightenment, particularly by John Locke or Immanuel Kant. According to Locke, each human has several natural rights (to life, of liberty, of property, etc) and any governments or political power must not violate them (because of the theory of the social contract). In the early 21st century a “neoliberalism” defends mainly an “open international political economy, with rules and institutions based on state sovereignty, provides incentives for international cooperation and may even affect the internal constitutions of states in ways that promote peace” (Keohane R, 2004, p.45).

So today, liberalism emphasizes the existence of an international society with common habits and practices that enable growing cooperation and collective management of international politics. Liberals tend to believe that world politics is basically evolving towards tolerance and peace because these cooperative developments lead to “reducing conflict, insecurity, and warfare without sacrificing national sovereignty” (Morgan P, 2010, p.35).

Extraits

[...] Even if the situation of Middle East is still not stable we can think the western model risks being hurt by this area with dawning influence. Bibliography: Collins A. Contemporary security studies (Oxford university press, second edition, 2010) Dalacoura K. “Islam and human rights” , Islam, liberalism and human rights implications for international relations (I.B Tauris, 1998) Keohane R. Power and governance in a partially globalized world (London and New York, Routledge, 2002) Keohane, Nye J.S. Power and interdependence (London, Longman, 2011) Morefield J. [...]

[...] The President of the European Council Herman Von Rompuy representative of the 27 states of the European Union supported the Arab Spring in a speech and announced the implementing of the right to protect. They supported a democratic transition “supplying financial resources, an access to international market and helping the construction of institutions”[1]. Geographically and politically it was a great opportunity to United States and Europe to wriggle a way in Libya. Moreover, they were allowed to sanction the Gaddafi's regime acting military (with restraint) by United Nations Security Council with “Resolution 1970” and “Resolution 1973”. [...]

[...] I think laying down liberal conception to societies which are not geographically, culturally and historically drawn up for lead inevitably to a huge clash between regions and civilizations. The current context in Middle East does not necessarily make possible the establishment of the democracy because of huge social and economic difficulties. They should concentrate their efforts of developing their economic and improving living-standard while respecting nevertheless human rights in order to avoid a growing malaise in society, because it could affect its integration in an international dynamic. [...]

[...] Middle East has tense relations with the West because of the gap between their both cultures, especially with the United States when it has invaded Iraq after the 9/11 attack. Moreover, the economic crisis had a more important impact in this area further weakening its peripheral integration in the global dynamic; so the unrest persisted with sharp rising food costs in 2010 and 2011 and a rate of unemployment that peaks (has increased by 65% in Egypt and 65% in Libya for example). [...]

[...] Indeed, the notion of dignity one of the most important in the human rights was often abstracted in some countries. Therefore, on December 2010, the Muhammad Buazizi's desperate act of setting himself ablaze in Tunisia was the first sign of a social unrest (although there were several movements aiming to promote human rights in those societies such as the Kefaya in Egypt for example). This act highlighted the importance the human rights abuses and caused a wave of indignation in Arab societies as well as in the West. [...]