Review Article: International Liberalism and Distributive Justice: A Survey of Recent Thought
Author(s)
Beitz, Charles
Abstract
In recent years there has been a renewal of interest in the liberal tradition of international thought. It arises from several sources–most prominently, from doubt about the adequacy of political realism in explaining international collaboration and from examination of the neo-Kantian idea of a “democratic peace.” And it manifests itself in the formulation of general analytical paradigms for international relations that are seen as alternatives to other prevailing constructions. The various forms of analytical liberalism share an emphasis on the domestic structure and political culture of states as the primary determinants of foreign policy. These paradigms are perhaps best seen as attempts to generalize the second-image theories of the causes of war distinguished by Kenneth Waltz many years ago. However, unlike the earlier liberal theorists considered by Waltz, contemporary writers have tended to limit their attention to the analysis and explanation of international behavior; they have had relatively little to say about how, if at all, the principles and ideals of the liberal tradition might guide international practice.
