State Socialization, International Norm Dynamics and the Liberal Peace

Author: Ewan Harrison

Source: International Politics, Volume 41, Number 4, December 2004 , pp. 521-542(22)

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Abstract:

This paper links research on the liberal peace and the impact of domestic political structures on foreign policy with constructivist insights about international norm dynamics and processes of state socialization in international politics. The resultant synthesis suggests that the liberal peace may begin to generate powerful socialization effects once a critical mass of liberal democratic states has emerged in the international system. Reformulating liberal theory in this way opens up the possibility of fully exploiting the potential complementarities which exist between the literatures on constructivism and the liberal peace. Using constructivist insights to cast new light on the existing liberal peace proposition promises to link constructivist theory progressively to a major arena of empirical debate within the field. By the same token, recasting the democratic peace argument in more systemic terms yields a range of new hypotheses that are capable of extending research on this topic into a second generation.International Politics (2004) 41, 521–542. doi:10.1057/palgrave.ip.8800095

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.ip.8800095

Affiliations: 1: aThe Queen's College, Oxford, OX1 4AW, UK., Email: ewan.harrison@queens.ox.ac.uk

Publication date: 2004-12-01