I. Introduction to International Relations; II. International Relations Theory; III. International Political Economy; IV. International Political Systems; V. International Organizations; VI. National Security and Diplomacy; VII. International Law; VIII. International Negotiations; IX. Conflict Analysis and Resolution; X. Comparative Political Systems
GO21’S
INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
WHAT IS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (IR)?
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WHAT IR IS: The academic study of all things above the state. More specifically, IR is the study of relations between nation-states. How states inter-act is thus: inter+national+relations=IR; rather than the study of each state’s domestic affairs. This critical distinction between domestic and international separates IR as an academic discipline rather than a component of political science. The nation-state is at the center of the international system, which builds on one definitive idea: sovereignty. If a nation-state is sovereign, it has dominion over its domestic affairs without interference from another nation-state. Independence allows a nation-state to develop its internal hierarchy (political system); whereas the international system is considered anarchical (horizontal) because no nation-state maintains legal sovereignty over another nation-state (perhaps more in theory but not practice).
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HOW IR IS: The hierarchy (vertical) of a domestic political system is a rules-based system (judicial). For example, if an ordinary citizen in an emergency, calls 911, it elicits a predictable emergency response from the state, i.e., police, ambulance, firetruck, etc. However in the global habitat this emergency response does not exist; there is no world police to save a nation-state from its home invasion. For example, global disapproval and lack of legal authorities did not stop the United States (US) invasion of Iraq in 2003, and no one came to Georgia’s aid in 2008 when Russia invaded or Crimea’s annexation in 2014; history is full of these examples. Simply put, there is no supreme international political authority that forms an enforceable judicial hierarchy; thus, the system is closer to anarchy. However, there is order in the global system and not the chaos that a word like anarchy may imply. There are deterrents to prevent nation-states from randomly violating other nation-states’ sovereignty (i.e., multinational use of force, economic sanctions, etc…). Finally, though nation-states may be at the core of the international system they are not the only actors that bring order to the anarchy.
HOW IS IR STUDIED?
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LEVELS OF STUDY TO IR: Like other social sciences, by applying theory and method towards units of study (actors) with observations and measurable relationships the science is formed. For example, in IR, there are many actors (units of study) in the system, not just the nation-state. Actors in the system include are -but are not limited to- International Organizations (IOs), which can be regional or transnational; Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), which can be legitimate and recognized by other nation-states; Multinational Corporations (MNCs) which can be headquartered in one state with several regional headquarters in other Nation-States; then of course individual key leaders or regimes. One standard method for studying IR is to apply Waltz’s three levels of analysis [1]: 1. The (International) System: or the international order as a system of alliances and treaties; 2. The (nation-) State: A particular state’s institutions, socioeconomics, etc.; 3. The Individual: the critical executor of a nation-state (i.e., president, prime minister, persona center of gravity, etc.)
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THEORY & METHOD: As will any academic discipline, IR employs theories that intend to explain a current phenomenon based on the general principles of independent historical trends already observed. There are numerous Theories applied in IR: Realism, Neo-realism, Liberalism, Neo-Liberalism, Idealism, post-Modernism, Constructivism, Game Theory, and many more theories and sub-theories. However, most theories fall into one of two categories: competition or cooperation. Both approaches reciprocate in IR back to similar goals with different means: 1. Competition for resources or survival; 2. Cooperation for resources of survival. There are two mixed-methods employed in IR that support or cast doubt on a theory: 1. Quantitative method is a data-driven method, with more data acquired increasing the odds of accuracy (or predictability). 2. Qualitative is often a comparative case study analysis of similar historical occurrences. For example, the US-Afghanistan conflict outcome compared to previous historical powerful nation-state interventions in Afghanistan (‘graveyard of superpowers’).
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
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IR is a separate academic discipline that studies the relations between nation-states. The sovereignty of the nation-state is at the center of the international system. The global system is anarchical but ordered exists based on alliances, treaties, and the recognition of them.
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IR studies the various actors within the IR system applying Theory and Method at varying levels to identify, prescribe, or predict a current trend and its probable outcome.
Reference:
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Waltz K. (1959) ‘Man, the State, and War’. New York. Columbia University Press.