Idealism in international relations theory

Commonly also termed liberalism in IR parlance, idealism in International Relations usually refers to the school of thought personified in American diplomatic history by Woodrow Wilson. Idealism in the Wilsonian context holds that a state should make its internal political philosophy the goal of its foreign policy, i.e. the support or imposition of its political system on neighboring and/or rival states. Idealism is also marked by the prominent role played by international law and international organizations in its conception of policy formation. One of the most well-known tenets of modern idealist thinking is Democratic Peace Theory, which holds that states with similar modes of democratic governance do not fight one another.

Related Topics:
Liberalism - Woodrow Wilson - International law - International organizations - Democratic Peace Theory

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Idealism (or liberalism) is opposed to realism, as defined by Hans Morgenthau and personified by Niccolò Machiavelli, Otto von Bismarck, George F. Kennan and others.

Related Topics:
Realism - Hans Morgenthau - Niccolò Machiavelli - Otto von Bismarck - George F. Kennan

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