Partnership

through the Lens of

Liberalism
GROUP PROJECT:
215131002 RIZKI INDRAWANSYAH
215131008 HAFIZAH MURDHATILLA
215131012 ALLDO FELIX JANUARDY
215131015 YUNI ARISANDY SINAGA
215131018 FELIX SHARIEF
215131019 BAYU ZATRI

To be presented at the class of Diplomacy and Security in

International Relations on 13 October 2015

Partnership (TPP)

Glance
First negotiation conducted in 2003 and concluded on 14 Oct 2015.
Comprise of 12 countries and hold 40% of worlds economy .
Five major features that will set a new standard in global economy.
Attract other countries.
Trans-Pacific Partnership through the Lens of Liberalism, 13 October 2015

Liberalism in International
Relations
Juliet

Karboo

and

James

Lee

Ray

(2011):

Combination of beliefs that reject power

politics, and relies on international
cooperation and shared interests between
actors in order to shape state preferences
and international relations

Multiple connections across nationstates and non-state actors to bolster

maximum benefit of economic cooperation.

Complex interdependence in the

international system means that states
engage in and benefit from cooperation.
Scott Burchill et al (2005):
Free trade and the removal of barriers to

commerce
are
at
the
heart
of
interdependency theory.
Conflict between states would be reduced
by creating a common interest in trade and
economic collaboration among members at
the same geographical region.

Trans-Pacific Partnership through the Lens of Liberalism, 13 October 2015

Units of Analysis
Stephen W. Waltz (1998):

Amitav Acharya (2007):

Competing Units

Liberalism

Competing Units

Liberalism

Main Theoretical
Preposition

Concern for power

overridden by
economic/political
considerations

Main Actors

States, MNCs,
international
organisations

Primary Goals of States

Cooperation and
coordination to achieve
collective goals

Preferred International
Order

A collective security
system underpinned by
free trade, liberal
democracy and
institutions

Primary Mode of
Interaction between
Units

Two-level (domestic and

international)
bargaining backed by
causal idea trade and
other forms of
functional
institutionalisation.

A Major Variation

Neo-liberal institutionalism
Keohane.

Offshoots/Research
Programmes

Hegemonic stability
Theory (Kindelberger),
Democratic Peace Theory
(Kant, Doyle),
Interdependence Theory
(Kant, Mill, Angel)

Main Unit of Analysis

States

Main Instruments

Varies (international
institutions,
economic exchange,
promotion of
democracy)

Modern Theorists

Michael Doyle,
Robert Keohane

Representative
Modern Works

Keohane, Francis
Fukuyama

Post-Cold War
Predictions

Increased
cooperation as
liberal values, free
markets, and
international
institutions spread

Main Limitations

Tends to ignore
power

Trans-Pacific Partnership through the Lens of Liberalism, 13 October 2015

Main Actors
Who are the actors? States and Non-States.
Non-States are including the TPP itself and private sectors.
Commercial liberalism introduces economic interdependence and free trade

among the actors which becomes a force for peace. Liberal institutionalism
facilitates cooperation for the interests of the different actors which also
fosters collective security and attempts to manage conflict. (Amitav Acharya,
2007).
The TPP agreement reached consensus between the state actors on lowering
tariffs on certain types of goods, as well as collective production within
different industries.
This form of economic cooperation will ensure the
economic interests of state actors, as well as the multinational corporations,
for further joint growth. All actors will be relying on each other for the different
factors of its production, whether it be natural, human and capital resources.
The TPP itself becomes an institution and will act as a forum for negotiations
and dispute settlement. However it can be predicted that the members of this
forum will remain to be states only, with the vested interests of the different
corporations and industries the nation represents. Never the less, the joint
interest represents 40% of the global economy and therefore cooperation is
ensured for the prosperity and security of the states economies and the
corporations growth.
Trans-Pacific Partnership through the Lens of Liberalism, 13 October 2015

Primary Goals of State

In

liberalism, cooperation and coordination to achieve

collective goals could be seen in a form of regionalism.
Regionalism is a policy and state project in which state and
non-state actors to cooperate and coordinate strategies in
order to achieve an interest in a particular area. The
objective of regionalism is to seek and promote common
interest in one or more issues. (Mary Farell, 2005).
Facilitated by norms, domestic institutions and a high degree
of interdependence, countries within a regional community
have a tendency to join in the community. States see
themselves as fundamentally linked to other states, bound
by common norms, political experience, and regional
location. (G. John Ikenberry and Jitsuo Tsuchiyama, 2002).
TPP will be transformed into a foundation to expand regional
integration and also be a catalyst for advancing global trade
liberalisation.
Trans-Pacific Partnership through the Lens of Liberalism, 13 October 2015

Preferred International
Order
In liberalism, international order is set by a collective security

system underpinned by free trade, liberal democracy and

institutions.
Use the concepts of trade as an instrument to show their
existence in the dynamics of international political economy,
and aspect of the embodiment of free trade is the free market.
The international system in liberalism is defined and
characterized by interdependence and cooperation rather than
anarchy. This interdependence strengthens the relations
between the states in the international community.
Additionally, with the manifestation of free trade. (Andr
Broome, 2014).
Trade and competition between actors are viewed as mutually
beneficial and thus can be resulted in positive-sum rather than
zero-sum outcomes where all participants can gain benefits.
(Robert O'Brien and Marc Williams, 2013)
Trans-Pacific Partnership through the Lens of Liberalism, 13 October 2015

Primary Mode of Interaction

between Units
Interdependence

liberalism
theory
stipulates
that
increase
interdependence between countries reduces the chance of them
engaging in conflict.
Peoples and governments are affected by what happens elsewhere, by
the actions of their counterparts in other countries. Thus, a higher level
of transnational relations between countries means a higher level of
interdependence that also reflects the process of modernization, which
usually increases the level of interdependence between states. (Robert
Jackson and Georg Sorensen, 2010)
The early theorist of interdependence liberalism theory, Keohane and
Nye emphasises the importance of non-state transnational actors in
interdependence theory . Thus, militaristic approach in international
relations becoming less-relevant. Economic and institutional instruments
are more useful. Welfare is the main purpose and common goals.
According to the theory, TPP is also a form of interdependence between
countries through certain areas of interaction.
TPP would contribute to the current world global politics and economy
architecture.

Trans-Pacific Partnership through the Lens of Liberalism, 13 October 2015

Main Limitation
There is a view in liberalism that tends to ignore the role of power.
What is power? What constitute as a power?
Assumptions:
Used as a tool for major power to dominate regional/worlds economy.
Unequal distribution in its implementation
Equality amongst participated countries inequality?
John Locke explains that liberalist believe in individuals that are
competitive but also can engage in cooperation or collaboration. In that
sense, liberalist optimist when seeing all actors and parties in TPP
employs their reasons, they can arrive at mutually beneficial cooperation.
(Robert Jackson and Georg Srensen, 2013)
Stephen D. Krasner mentioned that choices have to be made, given the
uneven or asymmetric distribution of benefits and costs associated with
interdependence, these relations have to be managed if major conflicts
are to be avoided. (Stephen D. Krasner, 1976).
TPP can be implemented accordingly to its expected nature, which is a
sense of mutual economic cooperation. These agreement has
encompassed aspects of liberalism values and power is indeed is not
taking big portion on its progress and implementation.

Trans-Pacific Partnership through the Lens of Liberalism, 13 October 2015

Conclusion
International system is characterised by interdependence and

cooperation rather than anarchy. Interdependence strengthens the

relations between the states in the international community.
TPP is the manifestation of liberal value of free trade. The actors are
not just the state, but also the institution and private sectors.
Regionalism could be seen as a tool of states to bolster partnership
in particular area. The need of cooperation has brought the
countries in the Pacific Rim to create a common market of TPP.
Regionalism is also expanding with the norms and specific values to
answer the region constellation.
TPP could also be the means for democratic state members to
promote democracy to other TPP non-democratic state-members
A sense of mutual cooperation will diminish the urge to seek a
power, and ultimately will bring the nations to work together in
peaceful manner and seek common prosperity

Trans-Pacific Partnership through the Lens of Liberalism, 13 October 2015

References
Acharya, Amitav. 2007. Theoretical Perspectives on International
Relations in Asia. Conference on International Relations in Asia:
The New Regional System. USA.
Broome, Andr. 2014. Issues and Actors in the Global Political Economy.
New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Burchill, Scott et al. 2005. Theories of International Relations. 3rd Ed.
New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Farell, Mary et al. 2005. Global Politics of Regionalism. London: Pluto
Press.
Ikenberry, G. John and Jitsuo Tsuchiyama. 2002. Between Balance Of
Power And Community: The Future of Multilateral Security
Cooperation In The Asia Pacific. International Relations of the AsiaPacific, Vol. 2.
Jackson, Robert and Georg Sorensen. 2010. Introduction to
International Relations: Theories & Approaches. 3rd Ed. Oxford:
Oxford University Press.
Karboo, Juliet and James Lee Ray. Global Politics. 10th Ed. Boston:
Wadsworth.
Keohane, Robert O. and Joseph S. Nye. 2012. Power and
Interdependence: World Politics in Transition. 4th Ed. Boston:
Longman Classics.
Krasner, Stephen D. 1976. State Power and the Structure of
Trans-Pacific
Partnership
the Lens
of 28
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13 October 2015
International
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No. 3.

Thank you!
Trans-Pacific Partnership through the Lens of Liberalism, 13 October 2015