Inter-war Period in Theoretical
Perspective
Realist Take
-
League
system no substitute for balance-of-power dynamics
o
relying
on League reduces effective balancing
-
US ‘buck-passes’
-
German
rise inadequately challenged
Liberal Take
-
Leage is insufficiently empowered
o
No
means to enforce ‘collective security’
-
Domestic
politics produces isolationist (US) and expansionist (
o
Economic
cooperation fails
o
Arms
control not adequately pursued
-
Liberal
v. autocratic divide (US,
o
Liberal
states fail to ally with
Constructivist Take
-
absence
of sufficient collective identity (Cf. Concert period)
o
no
consensus on norms & principles
o
norms
& principles exploited by
o
balance-of-power
v. collective security principles compete
-
ideologically
shaped identities shape policies