Democratic Peace Theory
Democratic Peace Theory focuses on the fact that there has never been a war between "constitutionally secure" liberal democratic states. Based on this, it makes the assumption that liberal democracies will not fight each other. Liberal democracies are not averse to conflict, however. They still wage war, but for popular, liberal reasons. In a world war, liberal states have and will all choose the same side to fight for. As the number of liberal states in the world increases, the possibility of global peace also increases.
Realism (and Marxism) fails to account for this "liberal zone of peace." Kant's three sources of perpetual peace can be looked at for foundations (political, moral, economic) for the liberal peace. Together, these three sources allow for the possibility of a lasting liberal peace [18].
Democratic Peace Theory focuses on the fact that there has never been a war between "constitutionally secure" liberal democratic states. Based on this, it makes the assumption that liberal democracies will not fight each other. Liberal democracies are not averse to conflict, however. They still wage war, but for popular, liberal reasons. In a world war, liberal states have and will all choose the same side to fight for. As the number of liberal states in the world increases, the possibility of global peace also increases.
Realism (and Marxism) fails to account for this "liberal zone of peace." Kant's three sources of perpetual peace can be looked at for foundations (political, moral, economic) for the liberal peace. Together, these three sources allow for the possibility of a lasting liberal peace [18].