Thomas Hobbes - Realist vs Liberal

In Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan he is certainly influenced by the recently concluded civil war, however, the questions and debates he raises extend far beyond that particular conflict. Hobbes outlines realist and liberal views, without drawing a particular conclusion for the reader. In fact, Hobbes touches on both views. Hobbes describes the presence of coercive power discussing continuous war and the relationship between conquerors vs the conquested and subjects vs enemies. This is a more realist view, where conflict is a continuous cycle. As the majority of Leviathan was written throughout the civil war it is understandable that Hobbes would consider conflict a part of life and to believe sovereign states have an obligation to provide physical security. This liberal view would argue as long as there are sovereign states there will be constant clashing between them. Though all sovereign states have the same legal status and rights, physical strength is what separates them.

Hobbes also discusses the rational arrangements one can make, contracts one can enter, and the rules of subjects. In other words, we can re-derive information from our past to develop new organization. These are more liberal views. These thoughts also correlate with the fact that Hobbes finished developing Leviathan at the end of the civil war. After going through a civil war one would hope people can rationally develop a “better” sovereign state. This rational development of a new and improved sovereign state can help prevent the cycle of coercive force.

 

One can conclude Hobbes has a blended belief of the two views, both influenced by the period in which he was living. It seems Hobbes sees the realist view as the current predicament facing sovereign states and the liberal view is the solution or at least the hope, the next step to prevent the continuous clashing of autonomous powers.