INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

1. Defining IR
IR is the study of global state system from various academic perspectives

2. Abstract
 IR involves much more than interstate relations
 Encompasses transitional relationships among states at both supra and sub level
 Informs about the five basic values:
i. Security
ii. Freedom
iii. Peace & Order
iv. Justice
v. Welfare

 Investigative challenge of the 21st century, some heightened concepts of international

life and study of IR

3. Scope
Three level of analysis:

i. Global level
ii. State level
iii. Individual level

This helps us to analyze and understand the foreign policy practice of state, how these
three levels influence foreign policy.

4. Subject Matter of IR
 State System
 International peace, cooperation
 Statecraft – use of power in international relations

5. Evolution of IR both as “Activity” and “Discipline”

a) First as an Activity:
 Thucydides – Ancient Greek Times
 Chanakya
 Hobbs
 Machiavelli
 Treaty of Westphalia 1648
Impact of Treaty of Westphalia on IR

i. This treaty revealed a common understanding of sovereign state as these states

designed foreign policy and channels of communication were also developed
ii. This treaty brought an end to intervention of religion in politics or no intervention
of religion of state in religious life
iii. States acquired legitimacy to create military capabilities and develop economy
iv. Contributed to international peace

Nationalism:

French revolution 1789 – origin of modern concept of Nationalism

So concluding this point we may say that up till World War I, IR was or remained an activity

b) Emergence or Evolution of IR as separate academic discipline:

i. World War I
- League of Nations 1919
- Wilsonian Optimism, Liberalism, Idealism

ii. World War II

- UNO
- Realism
- Two World Orders
- Non Aligned Movement
- Proliferation factor – advent and spread of nuclear weapons

iii. Cold War 1947 – 1991

- Distinct theories Neo vs Neo

iv. Post Cold War 1991 – Present

- Globalization (1991 – 2008)
- Rise of populism – 2012 onward
- Heading towards a new world order
- Post Positivism

6. Conclusion
- Today’s international world is marked by several happenings that affect us in more
than one ways
- Significance of IR has increased manifold
 STATE SYSTEM OR NATION STATE
OR
SOVEREIGN STATE SYSTEM

1. Definition
Relation between the politically organized human groupings that occupy distinctive piece
of land, are not under any higher authority as such and enjoy and exercise a measure of
independence from each other.

2. What is Difference between State and Nation State?

 What is State
 State and Nation State
 Country and State

3. Evolution of State System

a) 1648 Treaty of Westphalia

Facilitating or marking transition from medieval political authority (dispersed political

authority or no central political authority) to modern political authority (unified or central
political authority)

b) 1648 – 18th Century

Eurocentric state system

c) 18th Century – World War I

Predominantly State system remained western

Imperialism, Mercantilism provided the foundations of global politics and economy thus
sate system in a way also globalized as a result of colonialism and imperialism

d) 1914 – 1945

State system embraced non-western empires. For example in Turkey, Japan, China

e) 1945 – 1991

Decolonization led to dramatic expansion of state system

f) 1991 – Onwards

End or collapse of communist order revolted in birth of new states

Glaring example were USSR breakup and Yugoslavia

4. Challenges of State System

a) Globalization
b) Centrifugal Forces
c) Ecological Balance
d) Advances in Warfare Technology
e) Multi-culturalism

5. Future of State System

Non-ordained by Almighty. Humans fashioned it

Remained under stress between 1991 – 2008, however it is very much resurgent since then

Our International System continues to be based on this basic unit of state system

History is on the sides of states