From Liberal Multilateralism to Post-national Liberalism

• In Event: Contesting the Liberal International Order: Economics, Information, Institutions

Abstract

Currently, we see at least four types of contesations to the liberal international order. A surge of Islamic fundamentalism, revisionism in Russia and the rise of China, anti-globalization movements as well as the proliferation of right-wing populism and nationalism in Europe and the US. These contestations have not only converged in the critique of universalist protection of individual rights backed by strong institutions and the diversity of lifestyles (gender relations, multiculturalism, LGBTI). Borders are emphasized again and the free movement of capital, goods, services, and people is increasingly challenged. All this is accompanied by a growing rejection of political authority beyond the nation-state.
We aim at developing and probing an historical-institutionalist account of the contestations of the liberal international order, which focuses on international liberal institutions and aims at explaining the four forms of the current wave of contestations. More specifically, we consider the self-reinforcing and self-undermining dynamics triggered by the weakly liberal post-World War II order that led to a more strongly liberal order with international authorities as the main driver of current contestations. We distinguish two causal mechanisms that are responsible for the self-undermining dynamic, both of them questioning the legitimacy of the liberal international order. On the hand, international authority concentrates decision-making power in the hands of executives of a few powerful states backed up by technocrats. Consequently, we expect rising powers to contest specific international institutions via blocking existing institutions or setting-up counter-institutions. On the other hand, the exercise of international authority allows democratically elected governments to be outvoted. Technocratic regulation and dispute-settlement by independent bodies (delegation) then trump popular sovereignty.

Authors

• Tanja A. Boerzel, Freie Universität Berlin

• Michael Zuern, WZB Berlin Social Science Centre