Perpetual Peace?

German philosopher Immanuel Kant speculated that if nations are all republics, then perpetual peace is possible [1]. It seems that international relations may use Kant’s idea. Requirement of a republic is less stringent than that of a liberal democracy. If we democratize all nations first, then world peace could follow. There was also a well-known paper which noted that liberal democracies do not fight against each other [2]. An influential commentator Fareed Zakaria of the Washington Post said that liberal International Order is based on Kant’s proposal [3]. 

My previous write-up [4] casts doubt on this approach to international relations. At the minimum, such an approach is impractical. Democratizing a non-Christian nation could be difficult, very difficult. Consider some examples. American efforts to democratize Iraq and Afghanistan have largely failed after high costs of human lives, monies, and other resources. Unless we can find a practical way to transform all nations, not just some, to republicans or democracies, Kant’s perpetual peace is just a pie in the sky. 

Let us now consider a different viewpoint, i.e. through the Bible. Kant’s perpetual peace is impossible according to the Bible. Consider the Book of Isaiah 2:2-4 (the full passage of the NIV version is behind the references). Verse 4 says “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” So far it is all good. Kant’s vision is the same, as do some other thinkers and philosophers. Note however this is arrived at after verses 2 & 3. Verse 2 says “the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established … it will be exalted …, and all nations will stream to it.” Clearly this has not been established in todays’ world, especially that all nations will stream to it. Jerusalem has just recently been recognized as the capital of Israel, though not by all nations. In verse 3 “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” If you think that these have been realized in today’s world, you must be dreaming. So according to the Bible indeed world peace is possible but it is a long, long way from reality. 

After WWII, we have had long prosperity and relative peace. It can be forgiven that many dream for perpetual peace. There also have been efforts promoting democracies. However, international relations strategies must be pragmatic. 

References: 

[1] Immanuel Kant, Perpetual Peace, FQ Classics, 2007. 

[2] Fulbright Lecture 2024: Towards a Post-American International Order | Dr. Fareed Zakaria 

[3] Michael W. Doyle, "Liberalism and World Politics," The American Political Science Review, Vol. 80, No. 4 (Dec., 1986), pp.1151-1169 

[4] Will All Nations Be Secular Democracies?

Isaiah 2 

2 In the last days

the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established

    as the highest of the mountains;

it will be exalted above the hills,

    and all nations will stream to it.

3 Many peoples will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

    to the temple of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us his ways,

    so that we may walk in his paths.”

The law will go out from Zion,

    the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

4 He will judge between the nations

    and will settle disputes for many peoples.

They will beat their swords into plowshares

    and their spears into pruning hooks.

Nation will not take up sword against nation,

    nor will they train for war anymore.