Where now for the critique of the liberal peace?

TLDR

The critique of the liberal peace has sparked debate, and this article surveys future research agendas while rebutting recent literature that seeks to shut down the discussion. The article aims to assess what the critique of the liberal peace has achieved, what it has missed, and to chart future directions. It begins with a concise recap of the critique’s foundations, then interrogates its epistemology, terminology, and the capacity of critical projects to overcome mainstream intellectual and policy power. The article identifies the debate’s achievements, its failings and oversights, and proposes promising research avenues for advancing the critique of the liberal peace.

Abstract

This article seeks to take stock of the critique of the liberal peace and identify what it has and has not achieved. It also asks ‘where do we go from here?’ The article surveys an agenda for future research and can also be read as a rebuttal of some recent literature that has attempted to shut down the liberal peace debate. The article opens with a quick recap of the bases of the critique of the liberal peace. It then outlines the ‘achievements’ of the debate and examines the failings and oversights of the original critique. Questions are raised about the epistemology and terms of the debate, and of the ability of critical intellectual projects to break through the material power held by mainstream intellectual and policy actors. In its final substantive section, the article asks ‘where next for the critique of the liberal peace?’ We conclude by highlighting avenues of research that might be fruitfully explored.