Perpetual Peace and the Democratic peace theory
Preliminary Articles for Perpetual Peace ( From Kant, Perpetual Peace)
[13]
1. "No Treaty of Peace Shall Be Held Valid in Which There Is Tacitly Reserved Matter for a Future War"
Kant says that a long-term treaty that removes the possibility for future conflict is the only way towards producing a lasting peace. Too many supposed treaties are merely truces that end a particular conflict for a minor period of time.
2. "No Independent States, Large or Small, Shall Come under the Dominion of Another State by Inheritance, Exchange, Purchase, or Donation"
States are not property and thus cannot be treated as such.
3. "Standing Armies Shall in Time Be Totally Abolished"
Armies that are amassed in times of peace (standing armies) must be abolished as they encourage and beckon the possibility of war. Kant also states that mercenaries do immoral work and that men should volunteer to fight in the event of war.
4. "National Debts Shall Not Be Contracted with a View to the External Friction of States"
A national credit system that allows for borrowing money from other states must be forbidden because there is a high likelihood that those states will be bankrupted instead of repaid. States are therefore justified in allying against states like England that use such a credit system.
5. "No State Shall by Force Interfere with the Constitution or Government of Another State"
States do not have the right to interfere with another state's constitution and/or government.
6. "No State Shall, during War, Permit Such Acts of Hostility Which Would Make Mutual Confidence in the Subsequent Peace Impossible: Such Are the Employment of Assassins, Poisoners, Breach of Capitulation, and Incitement to Treason in the Opposing State"
Kant acknowledges that there will be war, but that war can still be a step towards perpetual peace. In times of war, states should fight honorably and a war strategy that is based on total extermination must be forbidden if we are to work towards perpetual peace. Kant also discourages tactics like spying and assassinations as they are "dishonorable".
Definitive Articles for Perpetual Peace Among States
First Definitive Article
"The Civil Constitution of Every State Should Be Republican"
A common Republican constitution ensures that all men are equal and free and that citizen themselves must consent to fight in a war. A republican constitution entails a small number of rulers and ideally a monarchy.
Second Definitive Article
"The Law of Nations Shall be Founded on a Federation of Free States"
A federation of free states that are bound by constitutions all of which are similar is a key part of the journey towards peace. The idea of law is respected even among belligerent fighting countries and every man has hope that his fellow man will work towards lawful behavior.
"But the homage which each state pays (at least in words) to the concept of law proves that there is slumbering in man an even greater moral disposition to become master of the evil principle in himself (which he cannot disclaim) and to hope for the same from others." (Kant, Perpetual Peace)
Kant also calls for a league of peace that is distinguished from a treaty of peace. Whereas the latter ends only one war, the former ends all wars.
Third Definitive Article
"The Law of World Citizenship Shall Be Limited to Conditions of Universal Hospitality"
Universal hospitality is crucial if we are to work towards achieving peace.
Democratic Peace Theory
Kant is usually regarded as one of the earlier theorists who discussed the concept behind the democratic peace theory. In his essay Perpetual Peace, he writes that peace is not a natural condition for man or for world politics and that an order of republican states founded on common constitutions and a respect for international law is the only real way to achieve peace. The democratic peace theory "is the proposition that democracies are more peaceful in their foreign relations." [14]
[13]
1. "No Treaty of Peace Shall Be Held Valid in Which There Is Tacitly Reserved Matter for a Future War"
Kant says that a long-term treaty that removes the possibility for future conflict is the only way towards producing a lasting peace. Too many supposed treaties are merely truces that end a particular conflict for a minor period of time.
2. "No Independent States, Large or Small, Shall Come under the Dominion of Another State by Inheritance, Exchange, Purchase, or Donation"
States are not property and thus cannot be treated as such.
3. "Standing Armies Shall in Time Be Totally Abolished"
Armies that are amassed in times of peace (standing armies) must be abolished as they encourage and beckon the possibility of war. Kant also states that mercenaries do immoral work and that men should volunteer to fight in the event of war.
4. "National Debts Shall Not Be Contracted with a View to the External Friction of States"
A national credit system that allows for borrowing money from other states must be forbidden because there is a high likelihood that those states will be bankrupted instead of repaid. States are therefore justified in allying against states like England that use such a credit system.
5. "No State Shall by Force Interfere with the Constitution or Government of Another State"
States do not have the right to interfere with another state's constitution and/or government.
6. "No State Shall, during War, Permit Such Acts of Hostility Which Would Make Mutual Confidence in the Subsequent Peace Impossible: Such Are the Employment of Assassins, Poisoners, Breach of Capitulation, and Incitement to Treason in the Opposing State"
Kant acknowledges that there will be war, but that war can still be a step towards perpetual peace. In times of war, states should fight honorably and a war strategy that is based on total extermination must be forbidden if we are to work towards perpetual peace. Kant also discourages tactics like spying and assassinations as they are "dishonorable".
Definitive Articles for Perpetual Peace Among States
First Definitive Article
"The Civil Constitution of Every State Should Be Republican"
A common Republican constitution ensures that all men are equal and free and that citizen themselves must consent to fight in a war. A republican constitution entails a small number of rulers and ideally a monarchy.
Second Definitive Article
"The Law of Nations Shall be Founded on a Federation of Free States"
A federation of free states that are bound by constitutions all of which are similar is a key part of the journey towards peace. The idea of law is respected even among belligerent fighting countries and every man has hope that his fellow man will work towards lawful behavior.
"But the homage which each state pays (at least in words) to the concept of law proves that there is slumbering in man an even greater moral disposition to become master of the evil principle in himself (which he cannot disclaim) and to hope for the same from others." (Kant, Perpetual Peace)
Kant also calls for a league of peace that is distinguished from a treaty of peace. Whereas the latter ends only one war, the former ends all wars.
Third Definitive Article
"The Law of World Citizenship Shall Be Limited to Conditions of Universal Hospitality"
Universal hospitality is crucial if we are to work towards achieving peace.
Democratic Peace Theory
Kant is usually regarded as one of the earlier theorists who discussed the concept behind the democratic peace theory. In his essay Perpetual Peace, he writes that peace is not a natural condition for man or for world politics and that an order of republican states founded on common constitutions and a respect for international law is the only real way to achieve peace. The democratic peace theory "is the proposition that democracies are more peaceful in their foreign relations." [14]