Human Nature and World Affairs: An Introduction to Classical Liberalism and International Relations Theory

Classical liberals believe in a realistic view of human nature, recognizing the basic social nature of individuals while acknowledging their propensity for quarrel, fight, and violence. They advocate for a distinct, timeless, and universalist approach to international relations, drawing on the ideas of major classical liberal thinkers such as David Hume, Adam Smith, Ludwig von Mises, and Friedrich Hayek.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 214 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2023
Publisher: Institute of Economic Affairs

Where do classical liberals stand on international relations? Does this differ from their views on domestic policy? And how does this stance vary from other liberal schools of thought?

Here, author Edwin van de Haar draws on the writings of major classical liberal thinkers such as David Hume, Adam Smith, Ludwig von Mises and Friedrich Hayek to create an insightful and comprehensive overview of the classical liberal approach to foreign affairs.

He delineates how classical liberals embrace a realistic view of human nature, recognizing the basic social nature of individuals, yet acknowledging their propensity to quarrel, fight and use violence - and how this has consequently become an inevitable feature of international relations.

He compares and contrasts this thinking with other forms of liberal thought, such as libertarianism, social liberalism and conservatism.

And he also examines the much bigger difference between classical liberalism and non-liberal thinking on international relations.

He argues that classical liberalism has a distinct, timeless and universalist approach to international relations - and that the unique ideas developed by classical liberal writers can, and should, be applied to contemporary world affairs.

Dimension: 198 x 129 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780255368278