2.Nature and Scope of IR

International Relations

By Ms. Nighat Noureen

SSHUniversity of Management and

Technology

Topic of Discussion

Why did 17th century mark the beginning of International Relations?

Why the scope of International Relations has been enhanced in 20th Century?

What is the scope of International Relations?

What is the significance of International Relations in contemporary age?

Task assigned

Critical reading of newspaper articles of Sunday “DAWN”

Nature of International Relations

International Relations is dynamic and complex in nature as one can observe that what one has studied few years ago with keen interest becomes hackneyed and obsolete today. Therefore, these new developments at international level bring new actors at global actors.

Scope of International RelationsIt is comparatively a young discipline when compare to other social sciences such as Political Science, History Economics, Law and so on. Therefore, its scope was not much clear. It was just after 1990’s when its scope was cleared to a great extend.

State System

An analysis of state system Individuals identity is recognized

by the name of its state Inter-state relations still the most

dominant actor in I.R despite the increasing influence of non-state actors

Relations in conflict & cooperation

I.R is a same coin with two sides, one have conflict and the other side has cooperation

Broadly speaking prime focus of I.R is a study of both conflictual and cooperative inter-state relations

General & Diplomatic History

The importance of History particularly diplomatic history can not be ignored for better understanding of inter-state relations

Power & Balance of Power

Morgenthau stated that “ international politics is nothing but power politics.”

“one states security leads to another states insecurity”

World public opinion, collective security, determinants of power etc important related concepts

International Law

Meaning of Int. Law It is a set of rules and regulations

which regulate the inter-state relations both in times of war and peace

Therefore, it determines the behavior patters of states in both time of conflict and cooperation

Int. & Regional Organizations

Provides a plate forum in time of war, peace and for conflict resolution and cooperation among states

International System

Uni-polar system? Bi-polar system? Multi-polar system?

Conflict management & conflict resolution

Why conflict arise? Techniques to resolve conflict?

War & Peace

Why wars do occur? How wars can be avoided? War and peace theories etc

Foreign Policy

The diplomatic policy of a nation in its interactions with other nations is known as foreign policy.

Though foreign policies are not the be-all and end-all of international relations yet they constitute a significant part of I.R

National Interest

National Interests are the goal of state which a state pursue with the help of power and foreign policy

Hartmann stated that international relations as a field of study focus upon the processes by which states adjust their national interest to those of other states

Military & Strategic Factors

Problems of national security, defense, bi-lateral and multi-lateral security arrangements, alliance etc

Economic Factors

Imperialism, neo-imperialism It is widely shared that today there

is no need of military wars but to capture the economy of other states

New World Order, WTO, IMF, , free trade, string attached aid and so on

Arms Control & Disarmament

Gained much importance particularly after 2nd World War

During Cold war intense armament between the U.S.A and the U.S.S.R was evident

Coercive and Preventive Diplomacy

A different kind of diplomacy in recent years one can observe in case of the U.S particularly after 9/11

Geo-politics

Palmer & Perkins stated that “undoubtedly the struggle for space & power over the vast land and sea region of the world and perhaps in outer space as well will be a central theme in the international relations of the future.”