Sociological Liberalism and Functionalist theory of IR
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Sociological Liberalism –
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Track 1 – State to state contract
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Track 2 – Society to society, people to people
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If liberal institutionalism goes for state to state interaction, sociological liberalism shifts focus towards society to society.
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Rosenau – Acc to him sociological liberalism gains relevance because we have shifted from state centric to society centric world. Hence sociological liberalism emphasises on track 2 diplomacy.
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Methods to promote –
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Visa Liberalism
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Organising fairs, cultural shows, promoting business, sports.
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Sociological liberalism is called as communications approach.
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Justification of approach – Talking with each other is only method to address the security dilemma, to remove the apprehensions.
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Karl Deutsch – He measure communications between societies.
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Visas issues, travels made, letters exchanged, phone calls made.
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He observed that higher is the communication more peaceful is relation. For eg – Today EU is peaceful, we cannot think of war between USA and Canada, USA and Western Europe. Higher/more communication converts security dilemma into security community.
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Security dilemma will lead to arm’s race.
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The idea of sociological liberalism is to achieve security community.
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If security dilemma reflect high level of trust deficit, whereas security community reflect high level of trust – the members of security community do not feel threaten by each other. They feel assured that the members will not attack, hence there is no need to carry arms. A security community has a common threat coming out from outside periphery of security community. A federation can be called as security community.
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Regional organisations are also based on idea. USA and EU are examples of trans Atlantic/national security community .
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Sociological liberalism provides basis for theory of regionalism.
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Functionalism – It is also a theory of regional integration. EU experiment is based on functionalism primarily. Even the theory of functionalism is modified, refined in light of development.
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Source of inspiration –
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Richard Cobden – Acc to him, if he wants to resolve the problem, keep the politicians out, non-political groups should be bought in for eg – scientists, technicians, businessmen, artists etc, give them role.
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Functionalism is also known as peace by pieces.
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Peace meal approach, that is a gradual and time taking process.
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Composite Dialogue – Started with Vajipayi.
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Functionalism is based on following steps –
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Peace by Pieces – Compartmentalise the issues, segregate into issues of high politics and low politics.
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First start cooperation on less conflictual issues through non-political segments like technicians, engineers.
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Once it is possible to arrive cooperation in one segment people will realise the benefits of cooperation.
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The benefit of cooperation in one sector will have spill over effect over another sector.
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Gradually interdependence will grow. Functional interlinkages will emerge.
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Over a period of time interdependence will reach to such an extent that going war will become irrational.
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Same experiment was done between India and Pak known as composite dialogue process. The issues were compartmentalised into 2+6 framework. The 2 most sensitive issues were – Kashmir and Nuclear security.
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There was considerable achievement of composite dialogue process between India and Pak.
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The countries came very close to solve Sir Creek issue, Siachen, trade.
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Even joint anti terror mechanism was formed. When attack took place in Mumbai, that time composite dialogue process was going on. The process remain suspended till then.
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Functionalism is most successful alternative to realism (existing on ground).
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