Page 37 - index

The most important contributions of idealism theory to the discipline of IR can be summarized as:
first, the importance of the plurality of international actors (international system is a collaborative
framework for states), second, the importance of domestic political factors in determining the
international behavior of states (internal affairs and domestic policies define the international
relations, not the balance of power argument), Third, the role of international institutions in
establishing rules of behavior (or regimes) for state actors (UN as the main organization and others
such as WTO, and other NGOs) and fourth, expanding the agenda of international studies
(particularly in the subfield of international political economy) by focusing on a broader set of issue
areas than mere survival and balance of power argument.

Idealism agrees that states are important actors in the international system however it does not see
states (like Realism) as the only actors. Non-state actors such as NGOs, Terrorist organizations,
transnational organizations and interest groups also tend to have major role in the international
system. Idealism unlike Realism argues that the positive outcomes of interdependence and
interconnectedness are more important and definitive factors in international system rather than the
increasing vulnerability and insecurity inherent in realist argument.

With recent development in cyber-warfare capability one may pose the question to liberal scholars
about the effect of cyber warfare capability on the international security. “Many nations have
aggressive computer-warfare programs, and that with a few keystrokes, an anonymous source
iii
anywhere in the world might break into and disrupt the (private) power grids of major cities.” Soft
power is becoming more apparent and influential in the technologically savvy world. Liberal scholars
also use the inherent collaborative and open source nature of internet to create a synergy between
their theory and cyber space.

The expanding partnership between the public and private sectors to provide cyber security and
services attests to the fact that states are not the only actors involved in national security, for
example many large defense organizations such as Department of Homeland Security use private
contractors to develop military cyber security platforms for national security purposes, such
collaborations are not identified in the realist theory.

“To realists, globalization reflects the hegemonic influence of major powers in international politics.
iv
Realists tend to see proximity creating vulnerability, which leads to conflict.” Cyber warfare
capability has only been possible due to such cyber imperialistic ambitions. Concepts such as
participation in global economic system have mandated many states to internalize technological
and cyber frameworks in their national security system and create a major source of vulnerability for
their national security.

Idealism does not assume that states are rational actors, and does not discount the notion of rogue
actors in the international system. Also idealist theory claims that states are not unitary actors, they
tend to respond to many variables such as institutions, groups and identifiers in their sovereign
territory. For idealist theory domestic policies have major significance on international relations. It is
true that cyber space has created an open global system of communication, but at the same time
this openness is the inherent risk that has imposed on states that do not recognize the cyber-
attacks as serious threats to their national security.

37 Cyber Warnings E-Magazine – February 2015 Edition
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