Introduction to International Relations

Presentation Layouts

•Concept, Nature and Scope

•Contemporary Definitions

•International Relations and Politics

•Characteristics of International Relations

Concept, Nature and Scope

International relations emerged as an independent discipline from twentieth century;

•Universities in West Europe and North America started teaching of international relations  after first World War(1914-1919);

•It was assumed as an integral part of history in Russia till mid of 1960s;

•It was recognized as a separate and independent discipline in the countries pertaining to Asia and Africa after second World War(1939-1945);

Concept, Nature and Scope

• Nepal is yet to recognize international relations as an independent discipline. It has been treated as a component of History and  Political Science at post-graduate level. It has been only included in the three years’ curriculum of  graduate level since 1998;

•There are arguments for and against independence and interdependence of International Relations, however, it is being taught as an independent discipline in Eastern and Western Universities;

Concept, Nature and Scope

•Some scholars argue on independence of international relations where as others argue it has to associated with History, Political Science and Economics;

•Palmer and Perkins rightly say that International Relations has to be studied as an autonomous and independent theory, research methodology and subject matter;

•History explains about the development of phenomenon taken place in the past on the ground of quest for  cause and effect. But International relations performs studies and introspection on the past and present;

•Stenley Hoffmann has highlighted that the discipline of international relations is concerned with factors and activities which external policies and power of the basic units into which the world is divided;

Concept, Nature and Scope

•Following Stenley Hoffmann, the states can not stand being separated from each other;

•Relations between states and problems concerning them are accompanied by the jurisdiction of international relations;

•As social, political, economic and territorial systems are attached to the state,  they have a number of interests and demands;

•The process of articulation and integration of interests create misunderstanding and conflict between and among states; and

•Governments conduct international relations to bear responsibility of states and international relations.

Contemporary Definitions of International Relations

•‘’International Politics is the interaction of individual nation states in terms of their perceived national interests or goals’’.

                Padleford and Lincoln

The definition gives a clear picture that individual nation states are subject to international with a view to perform their national priorities which are reflected on top pyramid of their national goals.

•‘International Politics is a struggle for and use of power’

                     Hans J. Morgenthau

Three relevant matters i.e. national interest, conflict and power are pertained to international politics.  States are used to a struggle for and use of power to balance their interests. It is evident by the definition aforesaid.

Contemporary Definitions of International Relations

•‘International Politics is an art of influencing, manipulating or controlling the major to advance the purposes of some against the opposition of other.’

                 Quincy Wright

By the definition, it can be concluded that the process of influencing, manipulating and controlling the behavior of major groups takes place in international relations.

•‘International Relations is concerned with factors and activities which affect external policies and power of the basic units into which the world is divided’.

          Stenley Hoffmann

         It is clear that sovereign states are interrelated on mutual concerns of their national goals. Even they can not survive being alienated from each other in indeed.

Contemporary Definitions of International Relations

•‘International Relations encompasses much more than the relations among nation states and international organizations and groups.  It includes a great variety of transitional relationships at various levels, above and below the level of nation states, still the actor in the international communities’.

               Palmer and Perkins

By pursuance of the definition, no doubt that international relation is not confined to the boundary of relations among nation states and international organizations and groups. It includes all the transitional relations above and below the states.

•Nature of International Relations

•Rapid change in science and technology has made the world lead to global a village. Phenomenon taken place in any part of the glove are triggering spill over effects  and advantages to another parts of the glove;

•Establishment of UNO and other regional groupings has increased interdependence among states;

•After dissolution of ex-USSR,  the unipolar world is emerging.  New relationships have begun to establish and old relationships have been dismantled;

•The Study of international relations has been culminated in the world due to termination of USSR , military pacts and cold war, emergence of non-aligned Movement and development of free market economy;

•Traditional tendency of  limiting international relations into phenomenon of diplomatic history and war;

•Nature of International Relations

•Due to  fundamentalism on nationalism and sovereignty, there has been danger of caste, ethnic, lingual, religious and socio-cultural conflicts;

•The world is moving ahead through transitional phase. Possible state of interaction and interdependence has been initiated. The balance of power is yet to be established among states;

•Old players are playing new roles but their roles is ye to be effective and strong;

•New players are on the stage.  India and Pakistan have been nuclear powers.  China is the largest second world economy and militarily powerful country. It is taken as one of emerging super powers; and

•The world Order of 19th century has been dismantled in the 20th century.

•International Politics and Relations

•Both have abided by same objective of establishing peace and order in the world managing international phenomenon. However, some differences can be cited between them which are as follows;

•International politics is concerned with politics of international communities.  In the connection with this, emphasis is given on diplomacy and relations among states.

•International relations deals political and non-political matters.

•IR is widening whereas IP is not.

•IR is descriptive whereas IP is analytical.

•IR is contract oriented whereas IP is power oriented.

•IR is static where as IP is developing.