Liberalism (international relations)

Liberalism is a school of thought within international relations theory which revolves around three interrelated principles: Rejection of power politics as the only possible outcome of international relations; it questions security/warfare principles of realism; Mutual benefits and international cooperation; and The role of international organizations and non-governmental actors in shaping state preferences and policy choices. This school of thought emphasizes three factors that encourage more cooperation and less conflict among states: International institutions, such as the United Nations, which provide a forum to resolve disputes in non-violent ways; International trade because, when countries' economies are interconnected through trade, they are less likely to go to war with each other; and Spread of democracy, as well-established democracies are assumed to not go to war with one another, so if there are more democracies, interstate war will be less frequent.

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