Reference no: EM133245734
How do I respond to this? Here is the prompt- Which of the three major international relations theories-realism, liberalism, or constructivism-best explains the evolution of the international system? Why?
Liberalism serves as the best explanation and model for how the world's international system has evolved. At every major international event or period of time that has caused a shift on the world stage, the international system has become more liberal, despite the existence or even dominance of realist actors in the meantime. The existence of a Prussian hegemony may indicate a realist world, but the fact that monarchs have been replaced with elected leaders as a result of the French Revolution popularizing democracy in Europe points to the more powerful influence of liberal change on the international system. Afterwards, the creation of a faux international organization in the form the Concert of Europe, leading to the actual codified organizations of the League of Nations and United Nations demonstrates the staying power of these liberal ideas into institutions. It also points to the growing desire to form alliances not as a means of balancing the power of global hegemony, but as a means of maintaining peace, even if it didn't always adequately manage to do so. Furthermore, in the modern age, global relations are more than ever defined by trade, not war. While global trade may have adopted some of the aggressive characteristics of warfare, the new existence of the interdependent, globalized economy reflects the liberal view of international relations, much more so than the realist way.
Constructivism also fails to adequately explain this evolving system. Since it relies on the spread of ideas amongst people, placing people at the helm as opposed to warring states or economic alliances, it is heavily dependent on the ability for people to adequately and efficiently communicate with each other. The technology that the constructivist perspective would require in order to significantly impact the world order would have to come much later in history, with the modern age and the invention of telecommunications, which provides the necessary speed and tools to allow the propagation of human-driven progressive ideas.