International Relations,Foreign Policy and International Politics

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International Relations, Foreign

Policy, and International Politics.International relations ( IR ), a branch ofpolitical science , is the study of foreign affairs andglobal issues among states within theinter n ational system , including the ro les ofstates , inter-governmental organ izations (IGOs),non-governmental organiz ations (NGOs), andmultinatio nal c orporations (MNCs). It is both an

academ ic a nd public policy field, and can be eitherpositive or normative as it both seeks to analyzeas well as formulate the foreign policy of particularstates.
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Apart from political science, IR drawsupon such diverse fields as economics ,history , law, philosophy , geography ,sociology , anthropology , psychology , andcultural studies . It involves a diverserange of issues, from globalization and itsimpacts on societies and state sovereigntyto nuclear proliferation , nationalism ,economic development , terrorism ,organized crime , human security , andhuman rights .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_studieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_studieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_proliferationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_developmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organized_crimehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_securityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_securityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organized_crimehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_developmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_proliferationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_studieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Area_studieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economics


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Concepts in international relations Systemic level concepts

International relations is often viewed in terms of levelsof analysis , the systemic level concepts are thosebroad concep

ts that defi ne and s hape an internationalmilieu, characterised by Anarchy .

Power

The concept of Power in international relations canbe described as the degree of resources, capabilities,and influence in interna tional affair s. It i s often divi dedup into the concepts of hard power and soft power , hardpower relating primarily to coercive power, such as theuse of forc e, and soft powe r comm only coveringeconomics , diplomacy and cultural influence. However,there is no clear dividing line between the two forms ofpower.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchy_in_international_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchy_in_international_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_in_international_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomacyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomacyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomacyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_in_international_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anarchy_in_international_relations


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PolarityPolarity in International Relations refers to thearrangement of power within the international system.The concept arose from bipolarity during the Cold War ,with the international system dominated by the conflictbetween two superpowers , and has been appliedretrospectively. Consequently, the international systemprior to 1945 can be described as multi-polar , withpower being shared among Great powers . The collapseof the Soviet Union in 1991 has led to what some wouldcall uni-polarity, with the United States as a solesuperpower .

Several theories of international relations draw upon theidea of polarity .
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Hegemonic stability theory also draws upon theidea of Pol arity, specifically the state of uni-polarity.Hegemony is the preponderance of power at one polein the international system, and the theory argues thisis stable configuration because of mutual gains byboth the dominant power and others in theinternational system. This is contrary to ma nyNeore alist arguments, particularly made by KennethWaltz , stating that the end of the Cold War and thestate of uni-polarity is an unstable configuration thatwill inevitably change.

.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hegemonic_stability_theoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hegemonyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hegemonyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Waltzhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Waltzhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Waltzhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Waltzhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Waltzhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenneth_Waltzhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hegemonyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hegemonic_stability_theory


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This can be expressed in Powertransition theory , which states that it islikely that a great power would challenge ahegemony after a certain period, resulting

in a major war. It suggests that whilehegemony can control the occurrence ofwars, it also results in the creation of one.Its main proponent, A.F.K. Organski ,

argued this based on the occurrence ofprevious wars during British, Portugueseand Dutch hegemony
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_transition_theoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_transition_theoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.F.K._Organskihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A.F.K._Organskihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_transition_theoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_transition_theory


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InterdependenceMany advocate that the current international

system is characterised by growinginterdependence; the mutual responsibility anddependency on others. Advocates of this pointto growing globalisation , particularly withinternational economic interaction. The role ofinternational institutions, and widespreadacceptance of a number of operating principlesin the international system, reinforces ideas thatrelations are characterised by interdependence.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalisationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalisation


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Dependency Military exercises often help increasestrategic cooperation between countries.Dependency theory is a theory mostcommonly associated with Marxism ,

stating that a set of Core states exploit aset of weaker Periphery states for theirprosperity. Various versions of the theory

suggest that this is either an inevitability(standard dependency theory), or use thetheory to highlight the necessity forchange (Neo-Marxist).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependency_theoryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dependency_theory


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War , the use of force, is often thought of as theultimate tool of international relations. A widely accepteddefinition is that given by Clausewitz , with war being

"the continuation of politics by other means". There is agrowing study into 'new wars' involving actors otherthan states. The study of war in International Relationsis covered by the disciplines of 'War Studies' and'Strategic studies'.

The mobilization of international shame can alsobe thought of as a tool of International Relations. This isattempting to alter states actions through 'naming andshaming' at the international level. A prominent use ofthis would be the UN Commission on Human Rights1235 procedure, which publicly exposes states humanrights violations.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clausewitzhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clausewitzhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War


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Unit-level concepts in international relations As a level of analysis the unit level is often referred toas the state level, as it locates its explanation at the

level of the state, rather than the international system. Regime typeIt is often considered that a states regime type candictate the way that a state interacts with others in theinternational system.

Democratic Peace Theory is a theory that suggeststhat the nature of democracy means that democraticcountries will not go to war with each other. The

justifications for this are that democracies externalisetheir norms and only go to war for just causes, and thatdemocracy encourages mutual trust and respect.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Peace_Theory


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Communism justifies a world revolution,which similarly would lead to peacefulcoexistence, based on a proletarian globalsociety.

Revisionism/Status quoStates can be classified by whether they acceptthe international status quo, or are revisionist,i.e. want change. Revisionist states seek to

fundamentally change the rules and practices ofinternational relations, feeling disadvantaged bythe status quo. They see the internationalsystem as a largely western creation which

serves to reinforce current realities.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism


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Individual or sub-unit level conceptsThe level beneath the unit (state) level can beuseful both for explaining factors in InternationalRelations that other theories fail to explain, and

for moving away from a state-centric view ofinternational relations.Psychological factors in InternationalRelations - Evaluating psychological factors ininternational relations comes from theunderstanding that a state is not a 'black box' asproposed by Realism , and that there may be

other influences on foreign policy decisions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realism_%28international_relations%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realism_%28international_relations%29


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Examining the role of personalities in thedecision making process can have someexplanatory power, as can the role ofmisperception between various actors. Aprominent application of sub-unit levelpsychological factors in internationalrelations is the concept of Groupthink ,another is the propensity of policymakersto think in terms of analogies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthinkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink


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Bureaucratic politics - Looks at the roleof the bureaucracy in decision making,

and sees decisions as a result ofbureaucratic in-fighting, and as havingbeen shaped by various constraints.

Religious, Ethnic, and secessionistgroups - Viewing these aspects of thesub-unit level has explanatory power withregards to ethnic conflicts , religious wars ,and other actors which do not considerthemselves to fit with the defined stateboundaries.
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This is particularly useful in the context of

the pre-modern world of weak states.Science, Technology andInternational Relations - How scienceand technology impact the global health,business, environment, technology, anddevelopment.

International Relations,Foreign Policy and International Politics

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