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The Crisis of Liberal International Order and the Forgotten Warnings of Classical Realism

The rise of nationalist populism in the West represents a growing threat to the foundations of Liberal international order (LIO). Yet, in the wake of such challenges the mainstream IR scholarship is stuck within its own paradigmatic dogmatism. This paper argues that the IR theories have no explanatory power primarily because they are grounded in the tradition of rationalism. To that end, the paper will revisit the tradition of “classical” Realism and its critique of interwar liberal rationalism. First, it will discuss the rationalist de-politicization of theory and how the lack of political thinking in the West provokes social reactions in the form of anti- establishment movements. Second, the paper will examine the concept of power ; a psychological phenomenon erroneously rationalised as a material capability of the state. It helps to explain populism not as an irrational force, but as politically “equal” in the struggle for power with LIO elites. Final point is to dispute the rational concept of anarchy, for the crisis of LIO reflect the vertical redistribution of power in the areas that are not traditionally of concern for the state-centric IR theories (identity politics, culture wars etc.).

Liberalism ; Realism ; International Relations Theory

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