Entire population of the world is divided into separate territorial political communities, or independent state, which profoundly affect the way people live.
The branch of political science that is concerned with the foreign affairs of and relations among countries.
International Relations (IR), or International affairs is a field of Political Science. International Relations is the study of relationships among countries, the roles of sovereign states, inter-governmental organizations (IGO), international non-governmental organizations (INGO), non-governmental organizations (NGO), and multinational corporations (MNC)
Traditional (states only): War, diplomacy, sanctions, foreign aid, military alliances, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs)
Non-traditional (including non-state actors): Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), terrorism, drug trade
Trade in goods, financial services, remittances, sanctions, drug trade
Migration, tourism, professional organizations, human rights, adoptions, religion, etc.
IR encompasses much more than the relations among nation-states and international organization and groups. It includes a great variety of transitional relationships, at various levels, above and below the level of the nation-state, still the main actor in international community.
Relations between many entities of uncertain sovereignties.
# Groups like: nations, states, governments, peoples, regions, alliances, confederations, international organizations, industrial organizations, religious organizations, etc.
International relations embraces all kind of relations traversing state boundaries, no matter whether they are an economic, legal, political, or any other character, whether they be private or official and all human behavior originating on one side of the state boundary and affecting human behavior on the other side of the boundary.
In simple and narrowest sense, IR is taken to donate the study of relations between states. IR denotes interactions between state-based actors across state boundaries.
Theories are generalizable accounts of how world works that go beyond the specific details of one unique case
E.g., globalization increases disparities / increases global wealth
Describe, explain and predict– positive idea of theorizing
No single theory can always explain everything
Positivism: Explain and predict by reducing the complexity of reality (examples: Neorealist, Institutionalism).
Normative: Challenge reality with reference to normative standpoints/values and develop strategies of fundamental global change (examples: Feminism and gender equality;
Marxism and class struggle; Idealism and human rights).
Realism: Security (Power Politics, conflict and war)
Focus on states and their relations in relation with power. (Military and political power)
State need to maximize their security and chances of survival.
Quest for military and/or economic security; Balance of Power
Based on self-interest
Ignore culture, moral considerations in foreign policy; obey only dictates of maximizing your power relative to others. Human rights, etc. of other countries = none of our business. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”
Dissuade another from taking an action by threat of punishment
II) Deterrence and Compellence: Threat / Use of Military Force
Deterrence = “DON’T!” Dissuade another from taking an action by threat of punishment (don’t attack)
Compellence = “DO!” Force another to stop something they are doing, or do something they otherwise wouldn’t do, by threat or use of force
Focus on the creation of a peaceful world by integration
Based on the assumption of the innate goodness of the individual and the value of political institutions in promoting social progress states, nongovernmental organizations, and intergovernmental organizations as key actors
IOs (UN, WTO, ICC)
Liberalism may be divided into these categories:
Sociological Realism;
Interdependence Liberalism; 3) Institutional Liberalism; 4) Republican Liberalism.
Realist focus on the preservation of order in the international system
emphasize on the preservation of the existing system can be categorized as Conservatives.
evolution to a better condition which is beneficiary for all states and organizationsThey are therefore Idealists.
Men make their own history, but they do not make it just as they please, they do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly encountered, given and transmitted from the past’ Capitalism produced internal tensions which would lead to its self-destruction revolutionary action to topple capitalism and bring about socio-economic change father of Marxist theory, together with Karl
The capitalists' interests lie in securing their power and expanding profits. Workers, on the other hand, have interests in higher wages, safe working conditions, shorter hours, job security
The revolution would emerge a socialist society which would fully utilize and develop much further the productive potential
The final goal, toward which socialist society would constantly build, is the human one of abolishing alienation. Marx called the attainment of this goal "communism".
xthe bidding of corporations
‘Structural Marxism’: Role of state is to ensure overall stability of global capitalist economy
states and other major actors as well as the identities that guide these states and actors
Nation-states are not all alike
Political culture shapes foreign policy
Form of government shapes foreign policy
History shapes foreign policy
Domestic political trends and debates shape foreign policy
States have identity
State identity influences the way states interact with each other Examples:
China sensitivity to any policies of other states that threaten its unity and sovereignty
The world during the 20th century has witnessed four IR systems.
Dominance of the Great European empires in the 19th century until 1914. In system theory, this period represents a balance-of-power system, but by 1910 it has decayed.
The empires destroy themselves from 1914-1945. With the major countries not willing to respond to threats, this period is termed “anti-balance-of-power” system. These systems are stable and temporary.
The collapse of the traditional European powers leaves the U.S. and the USSR facing each other in a bipolar system (two country system).
The superpowers block and exhaust themselves from 1945 through the 1980s, and the bipolar system falls apart.
The collapse of the Soviet Union end bipolarity, which leaves the world in a disputed era.
Remember….
Although international relations has taken on a new significance because of our increasingly interconnected world, it is certainly not a new concept. Historically, the establishment of treaties between nations served as the earliest form of international relations.
The study and practice of international relations in today’s world is valuable for many reasons:c