Why did liberal ideas become so prominent in world politics?

 

Liberal ideas originate in the 17^th and 18^th centuries, and it came about during the early emergence of capitalism (Windschuttle 5). These ideas were particularly strong within the middle class that emerged following the rise of industrialization and it can be considered to have been a reflection of the empowerment of the new industrial class in a world that was dominated by the aristocracy. Individuals such as John Locke and Adam Smith, among others, can be considered to have been the founders and proponents of the liberal ideas as they are today. Locke. For example, promoted the idea of a social contract, where authority was conferred on a government based on the consent of the individuals that were to be governed. This authority allowed the ruler to ensure that they maintained order and justice as well as promote basic rights, including property rights. This paper addresses the reasons why liberal ideas became so prominent in world politics, its base assumptions, and how they are likely to work.

One of the most fundamental liberal beliefs is the right to representation. This is seen through the way that there are essentially three branches of government, namely the executive, legislature, and judiciary, which are critical because of the way that they create a balance when it comes to the provision of checks and balances (Shane 161). Moreover, liberal ideas identify the need for a balanced society based on the universal nature of political laws as well as the predictableness of the nature of humans. Liberals promote the idea that social cohesion and harmony can be achieved under circumstances where individuals are able to establish their common interests in a manner that ensures that society is held together. The promotion of a balance, based on Isaac Newton’s idea of a natural equilibrium, allows for a consideration of the manner through which checks to the power of the government in relation to society can be achieved. This process is also significant because it allows for the attainment of the goal of ensuring that society remains harmonious through the establishment of a balance in political power.

It is also noteworthy that liberal ideas have also come to have an influence on economics. This is especially the case when it comes to the theoretical foundation, laid by Adam Smith in his The Wealth of Nations, which proposes that free markets, as well as trade that is free from the interference of government, is critical for the enhancement of economic development (Adam). This is especially the case when it comes to free markets, which are not only more efficient, but also ensure that the use of resources is undertaken in the most productive way possible. Furthermore, it proposes that individuals gain the economic rewards that they deserve, since the economy is driven by the market. Free trade is therefore essential because it considers the way that the whole society can end up benefitting through the market economies that provide for greater prosperity. This idea is significant because it allows for a consideration of the way that the economy is a self-driving entity whose strengths or weaknesses are dictated by market forces.

The emergence of liberalism as the dominant force in world politics can be considered to have been a result of the ideological wars that plagued the 20^th century. On a global scale, its greatest competitors were communism and fascism. However, with the fall of the latter in the last decades of the 20^th century, liberal values emerged triumphant (Richardson 127). This is especially the case when it comes to the promotion of a system of trade that encompasses the globe, the introduction of welfare at a moderate level, and the rapid technological advancements that have essentially become accepted in the rest of the world. The liberal values of the West has allowed the nations within it to attain economic, technological, cultural, and military dominance over the rest of the world, and this has ensured that the liberal economic and political systems, as well as moral values have ended up being imposed on other countries in regions such as Latin America, Asia, and Africa. In this way, globalism can be considered to be a manifestation of Western cultural and political dominance over the rest of the world.

From an ideological stance, liberalism was able to flourish like never before following the fall of the Soviet Union. The latter came about mainly because of the manner through which following the end of the considerable power that was wielded by communism globally, there was an assault on the social-democratic state (Lindbom 173). There was the promotion of the idea that governments have to reduce their influence over the economy and on social matters, and instead, there was to be a greater role for private initiative. Moreover, there was the need to make sure that free markets were promoted because they allowed for continued economic growth. Liberal ideas, therefore, have come to influence almost all aspects of Western society, as seen through the way that the West has essentially ended up taking on a more prominent role when it comes to the promotion of liberal internationalist values. The imposition of liberal values on the rest of the world is therefore a reflection of the considerable influence that it has come to have not only on Western states, but also on international institutions.

The beginnings of liberal dominance can be traced to the 1980s, when Western countries had essentially adopted liberal economic theories in different forms. This can be seen in the way that governments from both the political left and right played critical roles when it came to the adoption of liberal values in their economic policies (Ashford 1). Consequently, there was the emergence of a scenario where Western governments undertook the privatization of state-owned assets, the weakening of unions, and reductions in income tax. In addition, there was a move aimed at bringing about a reduction of welfare provision in a bid to enhance the role played by the free market economy. However, the implementation of liberal economic policies in Western countries such as Germany, France, Spain, and Italy, was met with varying degrees of success, as seen through the way that it resulted in considerable prosperity for some countries, such as the first two, and had a mixed effect on the latter. Moreover, liberal values such as the promotion of civil rights as well as devolution have become quite influential, as seen through the way that the United Kingdom has instituted devolved government.

The adoption of liberal ideas in world politics has had an effect on the entire political spectrum. This is because attitudes to such issues as abortion, homosexuality, and divorce have all come to be generally accepted. A consequence has been that these ideas have come to be accepted as part of the mainstream; with the result being that the power of liberal parties has become considerable eroded, as seen through the way that the Liberal Democrat Party in the United Kingdom has lost the influence that it had enjoyed since the beginning of the 20^th century. Liberalism has therefore come to affect the politics of nations across the world because the ideas that it promotes are not only influential, but have also changed the way that international politics is conducted. Rather than bringing about a situation where liberal political parties become more powerful, the adoption of liberal ideas into the mainstream has essentially marked an end to their influence since they can no longer claim to take on a unique outlook to the world.

However, despite its considerable dominance in world politics, liberalism has seen considerable push-back from a variety of sources. This has involved a sharp move to the right; a process that began with the election of George W. Bush in 2000 (Jost 73). There was a new attitude towards abortion, crime, internationalism, and welfare that was also accompanied by religious fundamentalism. Religious fundamentalism can be considered to be a reaction to the liberalist ideas that have permeated the world and has resulted in a scenario where individuals live in fear of cultural annihilation. Intense nationalism has also flared up in Western countries as well as in the Balkans and the Middle East, with the result being that there has been a sharp rise in populism that had essentially been pushed back by the dominance of liberalism. The move against globalization has also come about as a reaction to liberalism, because it is the ideas contained within it that have enabled the global economic system based on free trade to come about. Therefore, the globalizing process and the challenges that it is facing is a direct consequence of the liberal ideas that have been prevalent in the world since the end of the Cold War.

Following the end of the Cold War, there was a widespread belief that liberalism has triumphed over totalitarianism. The new, United States-led world order was to ensure the spread of democracy and enhance the position of free trade across the world. Furthermore, the period immediately following the fall of the Soviet Union saw the belief of the idea that there was no alternative to liberal capitalist democracy, which was seen as the most effective system when it came to the maintenance of freedom, social and intellectual achievement, as well as progress in society. There was also the hope that liberalism would ensure that an improvement to the living standards of individuals across the world could be achieved. However, as has been seen in the previous paragraph, this would not be the case and instead, there has been a considerable loss of faith when it comes to liberalism.

However, the continued dominance of liberalist ideas in international politics shows that it is still a force to be reckoned with. This is seen through the way that in theory and practice, liberalism favors the promotion of liberal political institutions and free society based on the market economy as well as private property (France-Hudson 108). Choice is also seen to be a positive aspect of society because it allows for the promotion of freedom. Moreover, in the modern world, individuals continue to be rewarded based on the market value of their talents, which is essentially because it follows the liberal idea of free market. Thus, the market acts as an incentive since it encourages individuals to put in an effort aimed at bringing about the realization of their greatest potential while at the same time attaining prosperity within free market conditions. Liberalism has therefore continued to be the mainstay of the global economy and society.

The promotion of free trade continues to be undertaken despite moves against it. This is a process that has been seen through the considerable interconnectedness that has been achieved within the global economy (Niblett 17). Thus, no country can realistically exist without others and it is because of this environment that it has become necessary for nations to develop bilateral and multilateral trade agreements to define the way that they conduct trade with one another. These agreements have ensured that there is the promotion of economic efficiency and wellbeing across the world and despite the negative comments against it, liberalism has played a positive role in helping to bring about the attainment of the goal of bringing individuals from across different cultures together towards a common cause. The rapid economic growth that is seen in emerging economies it a pertinent example of the massive benefits reaped from liberalist ideas. It is also necessary to consider that the concept of the free market is one that advances the idea that it is not only self-regulating, but it also creates an environment within which free markets for services, goods, and labor have come to be viewed positively.

In conclusion, liberal ideas have essentially become the universal ideology in the West based on its considerable dominance. This is especially when one considers that its basic assumptions have become the norm in most societies. Among the basest assumptions that are made by liberalism is that the rights of individuals should be given primacy, and the government is duty bound to ensure that these rights are defended. Moreover, there is the promotion of an optimistic view concerning the nature of humans and the possibility of the attainment of progress. Thus, freedom is highly esteemed, and because of this, there is some suspicion when it comes to the state, meaning that there is the promotion of the need to ensure that the institutions of state are checked. However, the presence of the state is considered a necessity in order to ensure that there is the protection of the rights of individuals, including their right to private property. Also, the market economy is a central pillar of the liberalist world, and this is based on the assumption that it is an economic perspective that is more efficient than one that is state controlled or protectionist. However, there has been the recognition that a market economy does not necessarily produce prosperity and instead, there are instances where there is a detrimental effect on individuals and cultures across the world. This is among the reasons behind the rise of nationalist and populist movements across the world as there are efforts being made to ensure that liberalist ideas are countered.