Concept of International relations (Ints 201)

Introduction

International Relations (IR) is a field of study concerned with interactions that take place beyond the boundaries of individual states. Although relations among political communities have existed for centuries, the systematic and academic study of International Relations emerged mainly in the 20th century, particularly after the First World War, due to the need to understand the causes of war and how to prevent future conflict.

Concept of International Relations

International Relations refers to the study of interactions among states and other actors operating across national boundaries.

Quincy Wright 

• Quincy Wright (1955) defined International Relations as the study of relations between or among powerful groups. This definition suggests that interactions involving non-powerful groups that cut across international boundaries may not fully qualify as International Relations.

Goldstein 

• Goldstein (2003) views International Relations as relationships among the world’s governments. This raises the question of whether non-governmental relationships are excluded from International Relations.

Holsti

• In contrast, Holsti (1995) defines International Relations as all forms of interaction between members of separate societies, whether government-sponsored or not. This broader definition includes both state and non-state actors.

In other words, International Relations involves exchanges, transactions, communication, and flows of information, as well as the resulting behavioral responses among organized societies, whether these interactions are government-backed or not.

Thus, International Relations can be seen as:

1. The study of interactions among nation-states and their governments.
2. The study of global interactions involving individuals, governmental organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
3. A discipline that recognizes the increasing importance of non-state actors in global affairs.

Key variables influencing International Relations include:

1. National leaders

2. Governmental actors

3. Private citizens

4. Corporations

5. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

Origin of International Relations

Although the systematic study of International Relations began in the 20th century, its practice dates back several centuries.

Notable early contributors include:

• Kautilya, the Indian statesman and author of Arthashastra
• Muhammad Al-Shaybani, an eminent Islamic jurist.
• Niccolò Machiavelli, the Florentine diplomat who authored The Prince

In traditional Africa, the Greek city-states, the Roman and medieval European periods, and pre-imperial Asia, kings and rulers engaged in diplomacy, treaty negotiations, trade regulation, and conflict resolution. Political jurisdictions and trade frontiers were defined, and emissaries and gifts were exchanged among neighboring kingdoms and political entities. Similar diplomatic practices also existed within the ancient Christian world and the Papacy.

Therefore, international and inter-state relations existed in traditional African and Asian societies, as well as during medieval and Renaissance Europe.

In more recent centuries, global interactions expanded significantly, encompassing:

• Slavery and legitimate trade
• Colonialism and neo-colonialism
• Imperialism and foreign aid
• Terrorism and globalization
• Conferences and modern diplomacy

All these developments fall within the scope of International Relations as a discipline.

The Real Study of International Relations

The systematic academic study of International Relations began immediately after the First World War, as scholars and policymakers sought to understand the causes of war and explore ways to prevent future conflicts.

The first International Relations departments were established in:

• Wales
• London
• New York

At its early stage, Idealism dominated the field. Idealists believed that humans are naturally good and that peace could be achieved through international cooperation and the creation of a supranational institution to resolve conflicts. This belief led to the establishment of the League of Nations.

British poster in World war 2

However, the League’s failure to prevent the outbreak of the Second World War led to widespread pessimism. This, combined with the development of nuclear weapons and the onset of the Cold War, encouraged the rise of Realism.

The major breakthrough of Realism came with Hans J. Morgenthau’s seminal work Politics Among Nations (1948). This was later advanced by other realists such as Henry Kissinger and Kenneth Waltz.

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Conclusion

International Relations as a field examines the complex interactions among states and non-state actors in the global system. While its practice is ancient, its systematic study emerged after the First World War in response to global instability. Over time, the discipline has evolved from Idealism to Realism and continues to expand as global interactions become more complex and interconnected.