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Introduction to

International Relations

Introduction

• (^) The term ‘International’ was used for the first time by Jeremy

Bentham in later part of 19 th^ century in his book named

“Introduction to Principles of Moral &Legislation”(1870).

• (^) In 1914 this term first time use for Relations of states.
• (^) International relation is the study of International System,

which involves interactions between nations, international

organizations and multinational corporations.

• (^) International relations studies foreign relations, diplomacy.

agreements and pacts, international law, international

organizations, inter-state interaction, war and peace,

international justice and alliances etc.

Establishment of International

Relations as Separate Discipline

• The emergence of IR as an Independent discipline is relatively a recent phenomenon. Infact it considered as the youngest discipline of Social Sciences.
• (^) Historically it traced back to the peace treaty of Westphalia of 1648 where the modern state system was developed.
• The real development occur in this discipline after the end of World War I.
• In 1919chair of International Politics was established at the university of Wales, Aberystwyth (Renamed Aberystwyth University in 2008).
• (^) In 1920 the London School of Economics founded the department of IR by Nobel peace prize winner Philip Noel Baker.
• (^) The 1st^ university entirely dedicated to the study of IR was the graduate institute of International Relations which was founded in 1927 in Geneva to form diplomates associated to the League of Nations.

Stages of Evolution of International

Relations

According to Kenneth Thompson, the study of IR has passed through

four stages.

1. Stage one is divided in to two further stages

I. The Initial Attempts

The first stage of the evolution of the subject stretched up to the end of

the First World War and was dominated by the historians. During this

period limited development was occur and no theory was developed.

II. The Diplomatic History Stage

The impact of World War I on the study and teaching of the discipline

was tremendous. The importance and necessity of studying relations

among nations was realized and this influenced the decision to provide

an order to the attempts being made. For this purpose the decision was

taken for establishing departments and chairs in various universities.

• 4. The Fourth Stage: The evolution of International Politics in its fourth stage can be studied in serval sub-parts: (A) Post-War Stage—The need for a Theory of International Politics
• The fourth stage in the evolution of the study of international relations began after the end of the Second World War.
• (^) The deterioration in international situation which resulted into the outbreak of the Second World War amply proved the shortcomings of the approaches of inter-war period.
• The need for new approaches capable of examining and explaining relations among nations was felt in a big way. (B) Comprehensive Study of all Factors and Forces and not only Institutions
• (^) In this fourth stage, the emphasis got shifted from law and organisation to the study of all factors and forces which conditioned and shaped the behaviour of nations in the international environment.
• (^) It was realized that there existed regular patterns in international behaviour which were far away from idealism.
• The role of power found acceptance as an incontrovertible fact of international relations.
• (^) This realization led to the emergence of political realism which advocated the study of International Politics as struggle for power among nations.
• (^) emphasis came to be upon the study of the determinants and operation of foreign policy.

(C) The Major Concern in the Post-War Period During 1945-2000, considerable progress was secured in the direction of developing a theory of International Politics. Many useful theories and approaches were developed. The beginning was made in the late 1940s with the development of a Realist Model of International Politics particularly as formulated by Hans Morgenthau. His Realist Theory advocated the study of International Politics as struggle for power among nations. It advocated National Power, National Interest and Foreign Policy as the fundamental units of study.

• (^) The main concern came to be the study of (i) The motivating factors of foreign policies everywhere, (ii) Techniques of conduct of foreign policies, and (iii) Modes of resolution of international conflicts.

Scope of International Relations

• (^) International relations cover diplomacy, treaties, question of war and peace, global happenings, commercial, cultural, educational. social, religious international alliances and international organizations etc. The scope of international relations can be discussed.
• (^) Establishment of League of Nations. In modern time the field. of the study was widened with the establishment of the League of Nations in 1920, after the First World War due to the sincere efforts of Woodrow Wilson of USA. The establishment of the League of Nations contributed to the study of international relations. Therefore, the study of international organizations and international institutions was also included in its preview.

• (^) Emergence of USA and USSR as a Super Powers. Emergence of USA and USSR as superpowers further widened the scope of international relations. After the second World War the world transformed into bipolarity from multi-polarity with USA and USSR flourishing in international affairs. Both the superpowers conducted international relations according to their own interests.
• (^) Establishment of United Nations. After the end of World War II various international conferences were held. Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin met at Tehran and Yalta. They agreed in principle to form a worldwide international organization for peace loving states. Therefore, an acceptable charter was signed on 26th June 1945. United Nations is a global organization of independent and sovereign states and its main aim is “to maintain international peace and security.” The establishment of the UN also contributed to the study of international relations to great extent.

• (^) Technological Development. Technology exercises profound influence on the power base of a state as well as the course of international relations. Technology at least in three spheres, industrial, communication and military, has greatly influenced the power of the state. Due to technological development the world has become a global village. Technological development also extended the scope and value of international relations.
• (^) Globalization. Due to certain reasons the scattered world is going towards integration. The world is now a single village and states are incomplete with one another. This situation increased the scope of international relations.