Terminology Definition Other Points
PPT #1 ✓ It is characterized by a
multidisciplinary approach,
International Relations
drawing on insights from
- Refers to the study of interaction of economics, political science,
states in the global interstate sociology, anthropology, and
system (security, economy, foreign history.
policy, human rights, global, ✓ It involves the analysis of both state
governance, environmental and non-state actors, recognizing
issues). the increasing importance of non-
governmental organizations,
History of International Relations
transnational networks, and
- Was born after World War 2 in individuals in international
Europe. relations.
- Was conducted primarily in two
Actors of the International Relations
loosely organized branches of
learning – diplomatic history and STATE – an institution that creates warfare
international law. and sets economic policies for a country.
- Realism and Internationalism In layman’s terms, it refers to a country
became the two dominant modes and its government.
of American thinking about
Attributes of the State:
international affairs by the 1940s.
• Exercises authority over a specific
Importance of International Relations
population.
- Allows nations to cooperate with • Governs a specific territory.
one another. • Has a structured government that
- Avoids international conflicts, crafts various rules that people
ensures international peace. follow.
Subfields of International Relations: • Has a sovereignty over a territory.
• Diplomacy – the study of NON-STATE – includes international
negotiations, treaties, and organizations, multinational corporations,
agreements between states. non-governmental organizations.
• Foreign Policy – the analysis of a International Organizations
state’s action and decisions
- An association or union of nations
regarding its relations with other
established or recognized by them
states.
for the purpose of realizing a
• Conflict Resolution – the study of
common end.
methods, and strategies, for
- They are established by a treaty.
resolving conflicts between states
Treaties are formed when lawful
and non-state actors.
representatives (gov’t) of several
• Globalization – the study of the
states go through a ratification
impact of global economic,
process, providing the IGO with an
technological, and cultural trends
international legal personality.
on international relations.
- Sometimes referred to as
• International Law – the study of
Intergovernmental Organizations
rules and norms that regulate the
(IGOs)
behavior of states and non-state
- Can be a source of great good and
actors.
great harm.
Features of International Relations:
Powers of International Organizations:
✓ It is concerned with the study of (Michael N. Barnett and Martha)
interactions between sovereign
• Power of classification.
entities, making it inherently
• Power to fix meanings.
complex and diverse.
Terminology Definition Other Points
• Power to diffuse norms. Neoclassical Realism – an approach to
foreign policy analysis.
PPT #2
LIBERALISM
Theories of International Relations
- Focuses on institutions and shared
- It allows us to understand the way
power.
international systems work, as well
- They believe that institutions play a
as how nations engage with each
key role in cooperation among
other and view the world.
states via interdependence.
State Interests: - They also believe that despite the
threat of anarchy, states and
• Self-Preservation individuals are still cooperating.
• Military Security
• Economic Prosperity 3 Main Components of Interdependence:
• Influence over States • States interact in various ways
REALISM (economic, financial, and cultural
means).
- Seeks to explain the reality of • Security is not the primary goal in
international politics. state-to-state interactions.
- Stresses its competitive and • Military forces are not typically
conflictual side. used.
Self-Preservation – state’s primary
Hugo Grotius – a theorist of international
interest. law that emphasized the constraining
Military Power – most important and effects of international law on the
reliable form of power. behavior of states.
Realism’s Major Actor (STATE) Types of Liberalism
- The most important actor. Classical Liberalism – sees competition
- Primary concern is power and and conflict as inevitable with the roots of
security. conflict in the nature of human beings.
- Exist within an anarchic Neoliberalism – believes that state
international system. cooperate to achieve absolute gains, and
- Highest goal is the survival of the the greatest obstacle to cooperation is
state. “cheating” or non-compliance by other
Types of Realism states.
Classical Realism – considers states as MARXISM
the only actors and gives importance to - Focuses on the class rather than
military power and the maximization of the states and economic issues are
power. of central importance.
Structural Realism – focuses on the CONSTRUCTIVISM
anarchic structures of the international
system. Compared to classical, it is more - Seeks to focus on the social
scientific in proposing general laws to construction of international order.
explain events in international relations. - Its central issues are identities and
interest.
Offensive Defensive - Argues that states can have
States should
States should multiple identities that are socially
balance or
maximize power constructed through interaction
bandwagon in
as much as with other actors.
order to survive
possible for
from threatening
surviving anarchy.
states.
Terminology Definition Other Points
FEMINISM as major world powers by the
beginning of the 20th century.
- Seeks to regulate the power
derived from (or denied on the United States Japan
basis of) an individual’s gender. the defeat of Spain the defeat of
- This theory highlighted women’s in 1898 Russia in 1905
absence on decision making and Balance of Power
institutional structures. - Suggests that states counter any
PPT #3 threat to their security by allying
other threatened states and by
World Politics increasing their own military
- It’s more inclusive than either of the capabilities.
alternative terms. - The policy of forming a
- A more comprehensive and a more geographically based coalition of
apt description of the realities of states to surround and block an
contemporary global political expansionist power is known as
interactions, which involves states, containment.
institutions, international - United States followed a
organizations, transnational actors containment policy towards Soviet
(terrorist networks, regional actors, Union after WW2 by building
and sub-national actors). military alliances and bases
throughout Europe, Middle East,
The Classical International System (1648- and Asia.
1789)
Shifting Balances of Power
- The Peace of Westphalia ended the
Thirty Years’ War marked the - The balance of power is among the
beginning of International most persistent and most widely
Relations. cited concepts in International
- The origin of international system, Relations. It’s also an “intrinsic
as well as the emergence of actors feature of international politics”.
called nation-states. - Its main idea is hegemony – power
will always be counterbalanced by
Characteristics: a strategic alliance of rivals in order
• A single central government to secure their own survival and
exercising sovereignty. sovereignty.
• A relatively fixed population. Underlying Assumptions of Balance of
• A relatively well-defined territory. Power:
✓ States are determined to protect
The Transitional International System their vital rights and interests.
(1789-1945) ✓ Vital interests of the states are
threatened.
- Similar to a “prism”, it passed ✓ The relative power position of
certain elements of the past that states can be measured with a
were refined and reshaped and out degree of accuracy.
of which emerged a new ambiance ✓ Either deter the threatening state
– a new environment – surrounding from launching an attack or permit
international relations. the victim to avoid defeat if an
- This era witnessed the attack should occur.
proliferations of other kinds of ✓ The statemen can, and they do
actors as well, notably the human make foreign policy decisions
beings. intelligently on basis of power
- Emergence of two highly considerations.
industrialized non-European states
