This study provides an original conception of liberalism that accounts for its internal contradictions and explains the current crisis of liberal internationalism. Examining the disjuncture between liberal theory and practice, it offers a firmer grasp on the historical role of liberalism in world politics.

About the Author
Beate Jahn is Professor of International Relations at the University of Sussex, UK as well as the Editor of EJIR and Director of CAIT. Her publications include The Cultural Construction of International Relations (Palgrave Macmillan, 2000), Classical Theory in International Relations (2006) and Critiquing Liberalism, a special issue of JIRD (2012).

Reviews

'In this outstanding book, Beate Jahn synthesises a tremendously diverse literature into a crystal-clear immanent critique of the liberal vision and its consistent contradictions. Unlike most contributions that tend to partition the field of study, Liberal Internationalism weaves together past and present theorists and their applications of liberalism across political, economic and normative domains. Scholars of international liberal theory and practice proponents and critics alike will have to engage with this seminal treatise.'

- Robbie Shilliam, Queen Mary University of London, UK

'In clear and direct prose, Beate Jahn makes sense of our fragmentary experience of liberalism. She examines liberalism's political, economic, normative, and legal dimensions and then demonstrates how these seemingly disjointed elements emerge from a hidden contradictory foundation. Via a precise, parsimonious, and original excavation of John Locke's work, she constructs a comprehensive account of liberal internationalism. This book's scope, depth, and creativity make it a major intervention in the social theory of international relations.'

- Naeem Inayatullah, Ithaca College, USA

'This is a fine book, well-written and insightful, bringing new arguments into the debate about current liberal internationalism. The end of the Cold War was a great victory for liberal internationalism but the grand expectations on behalf of liberal progress have not been met. Against this background Beate Jahn concisely clarifies the theories and practices of liberalism. The book is a must for everyone interested in understanding liberal world order and its basis in liberal theory, history, and practice.'

- Georg Sorensen, University of Aarhus, Denmark

Book Information
ISBN 9781137348425
Author B. Jahn
Format Paperback
Page Count 224
Imprint Palgrave Macmillan
Publisher Palgrave Macmillan