A conceptual overview of the relationship between tourism and peace in terms of international relations theories

ABSTRACT

The general claim that tourism is a promoter of peace has not been a common topic of study in the discipline of International Relations. The purpose of this article is to provide a conceptual overview, based on International Relations theories, concerning whether peace between societies can be attained by means of tourism. To that end, the study evaluates tourism’s potential to promote peace via four theories, namely, neorealism, neoliberalism, constructivism, and the critical theory. According to the findings of the overview, the claim that tourism promotes peace theoretically agrees with the arguments of constructivism and neoliberalism.

KEYWORDS:

• Tourism
• peace
• international relations theories
• realism
• liberalism
• constructivism
• critical theory

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 In international relations, the concept of ‘track diplomacy’ is offered to explain the increasing number of actors. Track-1 is the official channel where heads of states and governments operate, and intergovernmental negotiations take place; while Track-2 refers to the level at which non-state actors, such as individuals, communal actors, and nongovernmental organizations operate, and at which informal as well one-on-one contacts are made (Montville, 1991; Diamond & McDonald, 1991).