Liberal institutionalism

Abstract

Liberal institutionalism is a key part of the contemporary liberal international order. Evolving in response to conceptual and real-world developments, liberal institutionalism argues that inter-state competition and war are not inevitable; rather, cooperation and peace are greatly facilitated by domestic and international institutions. Traditionally, liberal democratic governments have been prominent proponents. The chapter begins by examining liberal institutionalism’s conceptual and real-world roots, as well as its usefulness for understanding the post-World War II international order. The chapter then considers how liberal institutionalism has been criticized by realists, Marxists, constructivists, critical theorists, developing countries, non-liberal governments, the general public—and even by skeptics within liberal democracies. The chapter concludes with open questions about the survival of the contemporary international order and the liberal institutionalism that has animated it.