This study provides an original conception of liberalism that accounts for its internal contradictions and explains the current crisis of liberal internationalism. Examining the disjuncture between liberal theory and practice, it offers a firmer grasp on the historical role of liberalism in world politics.

Beate Jahn is Professor of International Relations at the University of Sussex, UK as well as the Editor of EJIR and Director of CAIT. Her publications include The Cultural Construction of International Relations (Palgrave Macmillan, 2000), Classical Theory in International Relations (2006) and Critiquing Liberalism, a special issue of JIRD (2012).

Acknowledgements 1. Introduction 2. Contemporary Liberal Theories 3. Classical Liberal Theory 4. Politics 5. Economics 6. Norms 7. Conclusion