PSC201 Handouts by Paradoxical

International Relations · PSC201 · Table of Contents:

Page no. What is International Relations and what is its relevance? Approaches to International Relations: Theories in IR (Continued from Lecture 1)

The Nation-State System The Nation State System: Basic Features Of A Nation-State (Continued from Lecture 4) National Interest National Interest (Continued From Lecture 6) Balance Of Power (Bop) Balance Of Power (Continued) Diplomacy Diplomacy (Continued) Colonialism, Neo-Colonialism & Imperialism Colonialism, Neo-Colonialism & Imperialism Colonialism, Neo-Colonialism & Imperialism New International Economic Order New International Economic Order Non-Alignment Movement Non-Alignment Movement (Continued) Non-Alignment Movement (Continued From Lecture 18) The Cold War And Its Impacts - Introducing The Cold War Phenomenon The Cold War And Its Impacts (Continued) The Cold War And Its Impacts (Continued) Disarmament And Arms Control Disarmament And Arms Control (Continued) The Relevance Of International Law In International Relations The Relevance Of International Law In International Relations (Continued) International Organizations International Organizations (Continued) International Organizations (Continued) The Role Of Decision Making In International Relations Decision Making (Continued) Systems Approach To IR Systems Based Approach (Continued) – Distinct Systems In IR Liberalism And Social Democracy Liberalism And Social Democracy (Continued) Integration In IR Globalization And Its Implications The Global Divide Focus On Foreign Investments

What is International Relations and what is its relevance?

Definitions of IR

Jeromy Bentham was the first person to use the word ‘international’, in the later 18th century, with regards to defining the relations between nation-states. A restricted definition of IR confines its focus to official relations and excludes relations other than the official from the purview of international relations.

From a broader view, IR may refer to all forms of interactions between members of separate societies, whether government sponsored or not.

The study of IR includes analysis of foreign policies or political processes between nations, and also focuses on international trade and civil society interaction.

Ingredients of IR

The study of IR involves looking at the nature and principal forces of international organization as well as the political, social, economic organization of political life. IR is also concerned with an examination of elements of national power, including the limitation of national power and examining how it can be controlled.

IR also focuses on the instruments available for promotion of national interest, with foreign policies of major powers and of smaller (strategic) powers and considers other historical ingredients as a background for events affecting the current sphere of International Relations.

International Politics vs. International Relations

IR is wider in scope than international politics. International politics focuses on various styles of politics: the politics of violence, the politics of persuasion, hierarchical policies and pluralistic politics.

Yet IR embraces the totality of relations among people and groups of people in global society, which go beyond looking at political forces to an examination of socio-cultural and economic processes as well.

WWI had caused 20 million deaths in 4 years. For the first time ever, there was a global consensus on the need for collective security and a focus on the need for prevention of war.

Nations attempted to put to practice the ideas of public voting by diplomats in international organizations; the rule of law; the promise of disarmament and foreign policies based on disarmament via the formulation of the League of Nations.

The League was ineffective in stopping the military aggression that led to World War II. It ceased its work during the war and dissolved in 1946. The United Nations assumed its assets and carries on much of its work.

Foreign Policy & Diplomacy

Foreign policies are based on circumstantial variables as well as contending theories concerning how to best achieve the interests of a state in its interaction with other states.

Diplomacy focuses on the structures and instruments available for diplomacy and the changing scope of interaction with international actors.

International Institutions

Contemporary international institutions in which groups of states or other actors can participate include International Non Government Organizations (INGOs) or the UN system. The European Union, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Association for South East Asian Nations or South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation are also other regional groupings with multiple functions.

Contemporary: Current or from the same time period

Aggression: Violent behavior

Ceased: Ended

Disarmament: reduction of weaponry

Formulation: to devise or to design

Circumstantial: based on circumstances or ground realities