International Relations

Eyasu Hailemichael
Assistant Professor
  There were efforts to develop legal framework to
International Relations (IR) tackle the problems of war and socio- economic
deprivation
 Efforts at understanding the  The Out break of Second world war in1939
international system can be influenced a paradigm shift to understanding forces
traced to :
and
1. the study of diplomatic history influences which shape and condition the behaviour
2. the study of current affairs after of states like
the First World War,
1. the determinants of foreign policies,
3. Universal principles of the
international system 2. techniques of the conduct of
4. the study of international foreign relations, and
institutions, through law and 3. the mode for the resolution of international conflict.
organisations as mechanisms for
solving global problems of 4. The emergence of the Realists School enhanced the
conflict development of scientific theories to explain
international phenomena
5.
1. Information and communication technological revolution, interdependence of people, and
2. the emergence of new nation-states contributed significantly to the growing interest in the global
system

Specific points
1. In the year 1414 the Council of Constance assembled ignored to shape the
political and spiritual fortunes of Europe
2. The breakdown of the medieval system and
3. The coming of the Protestant Reformation,
4. The Catholic Renaissance,
5. The Age of Discoveries,
6. Expansion in Trade and Commerce characterised the influencing factors that
led to the evolution of the state system.
Continued……………

 The analysis of the international system therefore begins

1. with the historical formation of the state system;
2. fragmented into several sovereignties.
3. The historic Peace Treaty of Westphalia of 1648, brought the princes and diplomats
together to find lasting peaceful solution to the war that had fragmented Europe for over
thirty years
√ Importance of peace of Westphalia in study of IR:
1 International relations: accounting to "layman's" the idea of IR and the study of
relations across boundaries of nation states.
∆ peace of Westphalia: • peace of Westphalia was a series of peace treaties signed
between may and October in 1648 in osnabruck and Munster. •
These treaties brought an end of Thirty years war (1618-1648) in the holy Roman
Empire, and the Eighty years war (1568-1648) between Spain and the Dutch
republic.
Continued……………

 #The pre- Westphalia: •

There were several empires such as Persian, Roman, Arab, Chinese, mogul,
aztez,mayan etc. •
Relations between political units were controlled within the empire by the
emperor or Central authority. •
sovereignty didn't exist during this period.
# significance International efforts to solve a conflict using diplomatic
methods. All sides participated No dominant nature simply dictating policy
The main features of the traditional Westphalian system was
 Sovereign states interact exclusively with other sovereign states
 Non-state actors did not play a prominent role in international relations
 Countries do not form alliances with each other
Continued……………

Westphalia :idea's of state and the sovereignty.

√ Westphalian system a global based on the principal of
international law:
Each state has sovereignty over it's territory and
domestic affairs to the exclusion of external Power's.
each state no matter how large or small is equal in
international law. Westphalian model implies_ Purpose
of legal equality and autonomy. Non- intervention in the
affairs of other state. State of international law: • A
defined territory • A permanent population • A
government • A capacity to enter international relations
of other state.
Continued……………

 √ pre Westphalia and Westphalia system:

• system of states international society comprising
sovereign state entities possessing the monopoly of force
within their mutually recognised territories.
• Relations between States are conducted through
formal diplomatic ties between heads of State and govt
and international law consists of tries made ( or broken)
by those Westphalian entities. •
Implied a separation of the domestic and international
spheres.
• states may not intervene in the domestic affairs of
other. • It differentiate between the "model" state
system from earlier model.
Continued……………

 The analysis of the international system therefore begins

1. with the historical formation of the state system;
2. fragmented into several sovereignties.
3. The historic Peace Treaty of Westphalia of 1648, brought the princes and diplomats
together to find lasting peaceful solution to the war that had fragmented Europe for
over thirty years

The period 1648-1713

1. It marked another phase in the development of the state – international system,
2. It characterised by competition and the struggle for supremacy among the European
powers for colonial territories in the Western Hemisphere.
Continued……………

The period 1814 -15

 It is known as the period of Britannica, and the congress of Vienna
 It was named ‘Principles of Compensation and Legitimacy’ were raised to restore
the balance of power in the international system.
 This attempt was a temporary effort to lay the foundation of a political and
international system
 It later shaped the course of European and, by extension, world affairs.
 This was the era of the European state system, when the international system was
regarded as Euro-centric in character
 The Euro-centric era gave way to new dimensions of the relationship that
1. allowed for the expansion of the system, and
2. by extension, made international relations more complex.
 There are about  Under the subsisting
……independent conditions, every state is
States comprising the equal before international law
international system, as  thus, every state strives to
members of the United protect, promote and defend
Nations organisation. her national interest at all
 The increase in membership cost, even to the point of
has been attributed to the going to war if it is felt that
disintegration of the colonial the pursuit of the goal is in
territories and the breakup of any way threatened.
the former Soviet bloc.
 The Contemporary International System
 Contemporary international system is
characterised by
Economic division between the rich North and
the poor South that creates a
‘Dominance-Dependency’
syndrome that undermines equal cooperation and
beneficial interaction.
 The history of the international  It is therefore a departure
from ‘Détente’ (Cooperation)
system is replete with hegemonic and ‘Isolationism’ to the
role of European states, transformation of the
characteristic behaviour of
 It is caught in the web of domestic the system
wars, in a bid to expand by  Evolutionary trends in the
acquiring more territories and international system testify
to changes in the global
 It was about also establishing system.
dominance over one another.
 Evolutionary trends in the international system testify to changes in the
global system.

 The First World War of 1914  Since the end of the W. W. II,
the nation-state system has
-1919, become internationalized as
 The Russian Revolution of global politics embraced all
the nations of the world.
1917
 and caused a shift from
 The Second World War 1939 Europe to America, from
-1945 brought with them ‘Unicentric’ to ‘Multicentric’
systems and, the redefinition
some radical changes of the ‘Collective Defiance
and Balance of Power
 Evolutionary trends in the international system testify to changes in the
global system.

 The end of the W.W. II saw the United  As the post-war institutions were
States of America rising to the position established,
of diplomatic leadership and coming to  there arose the agitation for
the limelight in world affairs. reforms by democratising them to
 The USA provided the architectural
reflect the reality of contemporary
world politics.
designs for the formation of the League The main critique of the current international
of Nations but failed to partake in the system is:
building of the walls of peace.  a) It is NOT too reliant on a single country,
the United States
 It Also initiated and executed the
 b) It is unfair and unequal towards
establishment of the post-war developing countries
international organisation, which is the  c) It does adequately address the issue of
United Nations climate change
 Evolutionary trends in the international system testify to changes in the
global system.

 With the various changes, the international  The Cold War Era was
system touches every aspect of the life of
nations, viz; economic, political, military, characterised by armed race and
industrial, among others. excessive nationalism
 The post - W. W. II politics was
 The event in Eastern Europe is the
dominated by the hegemonic struggle
between the former Soviet Union leading basis of analysis of the Post-Cold
the Eastern bloc, and the United States
War International System.
leading the Western bloc

 Evolutionary trends in the international system testify to changes in the
global system.

 In 1985, economic and political  The unification of Germany in 1990,

reforms in the Soviet Union led
 Dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, and
to the introduction of
‘glasnost’ and ‘perestroika’-  The abandonment of one-party rule in
i.e. openness and eastern and western states,
transparency.
has changed the character of the
 This was in response to the call
international system.
for the establishment of a new
international economic system.
 Evolutionary trends in the international system testify to changes in the
global system.

 These changes laid the foundation on which the  The international system is a complex web of actors,
post-World War II Order was built
structures, and institutions that govern multinational relations.
 It gives rise to the ‘New World Order’ and ending
The primary actors in this system are states, which are
the debate about ‘Unipolarity’ and ‘Multipolarity’
organized in a hierarchical structure according to their relative
 The international system has continuously evolved
over the years to reflect the changing dynamics power.
among states. The nature of international
relations is dynamic, and it is influenced by  At the core of most international relations theories is the
factors such as power, ideology, resources, concept of power, which is defined as the ability to influence
diplomacy, and technology.
the behavior of other actors in the system. States may use

various forms of power, including military, economic,
political, or cultural, to enhance their influence in the
international system (Walt, 1985).
 Evolutionary trends in the international system testify to changes in the
global system.

 The nature of the international system is  For instance, the end of the Cold War was a critical turning
characterised by a range of interdependent and
point that marked a shift from a bipolar to a unipolar
interconnected factors. Globalization has
transformed how states interact with one another international system dominated by the United States.
by increasing the flow of goods, people, and
information across borders.  This led to the changing dynamics of international relations,

 Nevertheless, globalization has also highlighted with more countries seeking to balance against the US's power
inequalities in the distribution of resources and by forming strategic alliances (Walt, 1998).
power, leading to tensions and competition among
states. As a result, the international system is  Another critical transformation in the international system is
characterized by both cooperation and conflict,
the rise of China as a great power. China's economic growth
negotiation, and coercion (Keohane, 1984).
and rising military capabilities are challenging US hegemony
 The transformation of the international system has
and leading to a shift away from unipolarity. The rise of China
been influenced by several historical events,
including wars, technological innovations, and as a global power has led to an imbalance of power in the
global crises. international system and created a more complex and
 Other Major Changes

 The political and economic  The world today is structurally tending

integration of Europe led to towards unipolarism, because the United
global liberalisation and
States has assigned to itself a new role in
democratisation
world politics as the ‘chief security
 with the wind of democratic
officer’ of the world, thereby marking
change that blew across the
the destruction of the balance of power
continent of Africa, thereby
influencing the transformation principle.
of the international system.
 balance of power principle.
 Other Major Changes

 The change n the international

 This development coupled with the
system is likely to refresh
multilateral diplomacy with a view desire of nations to acquire nuclear
to curbing the overt (hidden)
weapons will result in
domination by one power, through
the expansion in the composition polycentrism or the establishment
of the permanent members of the
of a polycentric international
Security Council
system.
 balance of power principle.
 Structure of the International System

 First there exists a global system in which  The configuration of power in the
international actors are co-inhabitants;
international system from 1945 to 1989
 the existence of different international
actors; had

 constructive engagement and interactions  1. a bi-polar structure,

at bilateral and multilateral levels; and
 divided into capitalist West under the
 The resultant problems of conflict of
interests present the basic elements that United States leadership and the
have sustained interest in the international communist East led by the Soviet Union.
system

 balance of power principle.

 Structure of the International System

 From 1989, following the disintegration of the

 The USA adopted such foreign
Soviet Union into 15 independent republics,
policy strategies like:
the ideologically inspired hostility between the East
 Isolationism and containment to
and the West came to an end.
check the spread of communism;
Since 1990, the only super power remaining is the
 The Munroe Doctrine
USA, leading to the promotion of a ‘New World Order’;
 The Marshall Plan an environment for the conduct of foreign policy by all
to strengthen economic the states at the global level.
relationships with allied partners
in the Cold War era.
 Structure of the International System
 The analysis of the nature of the Consequently, the international system is
international system focused on the power-structured and so centralised that it
boundaries of the systems, its
becomes difficult to integrate Third World
structure as it relates to power, its
countries into it after the post-war and post
units, and their interactions.
Cold War era.
 The amorphous structure of the
international system is the earth, The simple explanation is that the
covering the entire globe inhabited international system is dominated by the
by the human race, bordering on the industrialised nations, making developing
examination of the degree of countries to be dependent on them.
centralisation and integration.
 Structure of the International System
 International relations is a complex Actors in International Relations
field that deals with the interactions
In international relations, actors are
among different actors, such as
defined as those entities that participate in
states, international organizations,
non-governmental organizations, and global politics and impact decision-making
individuals. To understand these processes. There are four primary actors in
interactions, scholars use different international relations: states, international
levels of analysis to examine the organizations, non-governmental
different factors and variables that
organizations, and individuals.
influence behavior at various scales.


 Actors International System
International organizations (IOs) are
 . States are the primary actors in
another critical actor in international
international relations. They are
relations. They are primarily composed of
sovereign entities that conduct
international relations on behalf of member states but also include other actors
their citizens. such as non-governmental organizations and

 States play a significant role in individuals.

shaping the global political and IOs have become more prevalent in modern
economic systems, and their
international relations due to their ability to
interactions with one another form
provide a forum for cooperation,
the backbone of the international
coordination, and communication between
system.
states.
 Actors International System
Finally, individuals are also considered
 . Non-governmental organizations
actors in international relations. While they
(NGOs) are non-profit organizations
often do not have the same level of authority
that operate independently of
government control. These and power as states or international
organizations play a growing role in organizations, they can still impact global
shaping international relations, politics through activism, social media, and
providing services, and delivering other means.
humanitarian aid.


 The individual level of analysis focuses on
Levels of International System
the psychological and cognitive factors that
 To understand the behavior of actors
in international relations, scholars underpin decision-making by actors. This
use levels of analysis. level considers the motives and beliefs of

 Levels of analysis are analytical individuals or groups of individuals that

frameworks that enable scholars to drive their behavior.
examine social and political
The state level of analysis examines the
phenomena at different levels of
factors that influence the behavior of state
scale or complexity.
actors. These factors include the state's
 Different levels of analysis include
economic, political, and military resources,
the individual, state, regional, and
global levels. national identity, regime type, and foreign
policy orientation.
 The global level of analysis is the broadest
Levels of International System
level and considers the interactions between
 The regional level of analysis focuses
on the interactions between states all actors and the principles that govern the
within a specific region. This level international system. This includes the study
looks at the regional system's power of international law, global governance, and
dynamics, shared cultural and global political economy.
historical experiences, and regional
organizations' role.

 balance of power principle.