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🔰 Introduction to International Relations
International Relations (IR) is the study of political and social interactions among:
- States
- Non-State Actors
- Intergovernmental Organizations (e.g., UN, NATO, EU)
- Individuals
🔍 Purpose of IR Theory:
- Analyze rules and decisions shaping state behavior.
- Understand global power structures, institutions, and order.
- Promote justice, inclusion, and equality.
🏛 STATE & NATION-STATE SYSTEM
State:
A political unit with:
- Defined territory
- Population
- Sovereignty
- Government
🛡 States are key IR players due to their monopoly on:
- Military Power
- Foreign Policy Decisions
Nation-State:
A population with a shared identity, unified under a sovereign state.
- ✒ Origin: Peace of Westphalia (1648) – established sovereignty.
- 🌍 Post-WWII: Rise of new nation-states via decolonization (Asia, Africa).
🧩 NON-STATE ACTORS
Entities not affiliated with any government. They include:
- MNCs (e.g., Coca-Cola, McDonald’s)
- International Media (e.g., Reuters, AP)
- NGOs (e.g., Greenpeace, Amnesty)
- Religious Groups (e.g., Quakers)
- Violent Non-State Actors (e.g., ISIS, Taliban)
📌 These actors influence:
- Policy
- Public opinion
- Conflicts and diplomacy
⚔️ THEORIES OF POWER IN IR
Power is both:
- An attribute (military, economic)
- A social process (influence & identity)
Key Theories & Thinkers:
- Realism: Power as dominance (Machiavelli, Morgenthau)
- Neo-Realism: Power = military + economic strength
- Constructivism/Postmodern: Power as discourse & ideology
🌀 Polarity in IR:
- Unipolarity – One hegemon (e.g., Post-Cold War USA)
- Bipolarity – Two powers (e.g., USA vs USSR)
- Multipolarity – Several global powers
Classification:
- Superpower – Military + economic + global reach
- ↳ Coined by William T. Fox (1944): USA, USSR, Britain
- Great Power – Strong regional influence
- Middle Power – Often bridge builders (e.g., G20 countries)
- Small Power – Limited influence, often dependent
🛠 HARD, SOFT, SMART & FAST POWER
- Hard Power – Military force, sanctions (coercive)
- Soft Power – Cultural & ideological appeal (Joseph Nye)
- Smart Power – Mix of both (strategic diplomacy)
- Fast Power – (John Chipman) – Power lies in speed and agility, not just strength
📢 "Survival of the fastest" > "Survival of the fittest"
🏰 THEORIES OF SOVEREIGNTY
Sovereignty = Supreme power in both domestic and international domains.
Types:
- Internal Sovereignty: State's control over domestic affairs
- External Sovereignty: Recognition by other states
Two Major Theories:
- Absolute Sovereignty – Full, unlimited power (Germany, England – 19th century)
- Relative Sovereignty – Subordination to international law, but not to another state
🌐 Essential for peaceful co-existence in a global community.
🔐 SECURITY IN IR: Traditional vs Non-Traditional
| Feature | Traditional Security | Non-Traditional Security |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Military threats | Human & global security |
| Concern | Sovereignty, territorial integrity | Human rights, poverty, epidemics, migration |
| Source of Threat | States or internal secessionist groups | Non-state actors (e.g., terrorists, cartels) |
| Means of Attaining Security | Military alliances, deterrence | Global cooperation, diplomacy |
| Key Examples | Cold War arms race, border disputes | Climate change, pandemics, refugee crises |
📝 FINAL TAKEAWAYS
- IR is dynamic, with state and non-state actors both shaping global politics.
- Power is central: how it's used, distributed, and legitimized defines global order.
- Sovereignty and security are contested and evolving, especially in a globalized, interconnected world.
- Modern IR requires a multi-disciplinary lens—politics, economics, sociology, history, and even culture.