INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS BY AYESHA SIDDIQA

I. Intro to IR-Definition, Scope and Basic Concepts:

 Introduction
 Element of IR
 Difference between international politics and international relations
 Scope of international relations
 Significance of IR
Introduction
1. Definition
 IR is the study of world in transition
 IR is the study of interest-based relations among states at
international level- (narrow perspective)
 IR is the study of interest-based relations among all significant
global actors (states as well as non-state actors at international
level (broader perspective).
 IR is the scholarly study of relationships between countries
including the role of states, inter-governmental organizations
 (IGOs), international non-governmental organizations (INGOs)
and multinational corporations (MNCs).
2. Elements of IR

Elements of IR Description
Interactions/relation  Positive (harmony, cooperation)
 Negative (conflict), Pak-India
relations
Actors  States, non-state actors (IGOs,
NGOs, MNCs etc.)
Interests  Common interest (harmony), e.g.
global peace
 Conflicting interests(disharmony),
e.g. Kashmir issue
Nature  Political relations
 Non-political relations (Economic,
strategic, social, historical etc.)
Level of analysis  Individual level(leaders)
  Domestic level(societies)
 Regional level(region)
 Global level (system of global
governance).

Based on the above, it can be deduced that IR deals with the study of:
i. Positive or negative interactions/relations
ii. Among states/non-state actors
iii. On the basis of common or conflicting interests
iv. Which may be of political or non-political (Social, economic, strategic et.)
nature.
v. Based on a number of factors at individual, domestic, regional and global
level, thus, requiring a comprehensive analysis at all levels.

3. Difference between international relations and international politics

Element International Politics International Relations

Scope Limited or Narrow Broad or Wide
Nature Closed discipline Open discipline
Main actors states States as well as non-state
actors

Nature of Political relations Political as well as non-

relationship political relations
Perspective of Traditionalism Traditionalism as well as
study behaviorism

Analysis State level Individual, domestic, state,

regional, and global level.
Evaluation Subjective Objective or scientific.

4. Scope of IR
 Core concepts of IR are international organization, international law,
foreign policy, international conflict, international economic relations,
international political relations, conflict, war, peace studies, economy,
globalization and international regimes etc.
 Nation State System: proposed in treaty of Westphalia, 1648,
establishes a system of rights and duties
 International Society: deals with society of states, international norms,
values and rules. Also incorporates institutions like UN, EU, OIC, and
their rules.
 Approaches and Theories: theoretical foundations of the subject;
traditionalism, positivism, post positivism etc.
 International Political Security: evolving concept of security in the 21st
century; power, balance of power, foreign policies etc.
 International political community: Global community peaceful co-
existence; evaluation of state-made political environments; political
communities include nationalism, globalization etc.
 Approaches to peace: how to maintain peace; e.g. democracy,
international law, deterrence, arms control, disarmament, etc. liberal
perspective of peace;
 Strategic approaches to IR: Types and nature of war and conflicts;
warfare (symmetric, asymmetric); strategic culture etc.
  International Political Economy: relationships between states, markets
and economy; themes like economic liberalism, mercantilism,
imperialism etc.
 International Political Institutions: Structure, functions, mechanisms
of international institutions; organizations like UN, SAARC, OIC, SCO,
IMF, WB, WTO etc.
 MODERN WORLD HISTORY: HISTORY SINCE ADVENT OF
CITY STATE SYSTEM, THEORY OF WEATPHALIA, WWI, WWII,
Nazism, cold war etc.
 Foreign policies: determinants, processes and models of foreign policy
making; rational, bureaucratic, organizational model etc.
 AREA STUDIES: cooperation, conflict, interest of states and non-state
actors; Euro Atlantic, Asia pacific, middle east, Indo-pacific, South Asia.
5. Significance of IR
 To Avoid World Wars: 20th century destruction; methods for attainment
of global peace and avoiding world war.
 To understand defects of nationalism: major causes of WWI and
WWII; peaceful co-existence.
 Limiting Nation Sovereignty: 21st century world is integrated and
complex; national sovereignty is now outdated concept; international
cooperation e.g. issues like climate change, terrorism, Covid-19 need
cooperation as these issues are borderless.
 Educative values: to educate people in the interest of human survival,
presence of dangerous modern warfare, need for precautionary measures.
 Better world order: prevalence of international peace; collective action;
international law and norms, collective security and mutual agreements
 World community: concept of global village.
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NATION STATE SYSTEM