INTERNATIONAL RELATION
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: OBJECT OF STUDY; HOW IS IT STUDIED? BASIC CONCEPTS,
INTERNATIONAL ACTORS; THE IMPORTANCE OF THEORY
Short questions (first session), 2 long questions
Allowed dictionary for the exam
Book : BAYLIS, J et al (eds.)., 2020, Oxford University Press, The Globalisation of World
Politics; An Introduction to International Relations, 8th Edition
UNIT 1: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS (IR): OVERVIEW
OUTLINE
1. Object of study
2. How is it studied?
3. Basic concepts
4. International actors
5. Importance of theory
Object of study
International relations emerged from 2 disciplines diplomatic history and
international law.
Diplomatic history started with the importance of Thucydides’ History of the
Peloponnesian War. International war began with the treaty of Westphalian (ended the
religious war). It established the state system. The idea of no intervention, the country
decides their own political institution. IR was born as an autonomous academic
discipline in 1919 (end of the 1st WW). Woodrow Wilson was the president of US. At the
end of the 1st WW, the idea of IR emerged. Woodrow Wilson wrote 14 points. The Treaty
of Versailles and League of Nation is the context of IR. Scientific institutions were set up
to study IR. The 1st IR research centres: the royal institute of international affairs (1920)
and council of foreign relation (1921), we can see English influence. There were journals
that still exist today to guide foreign policy. The centres are what help policy makers or
foreign policy. Through the scientific research, you could device a recommendation on
how to avoid conflicts… IR have always been policy making. Woodrow Wilson
established the League of Nations (LON). Permanent international progression (14
points). It was the 1st “collective security” arrangement. The LON failed because it did
nothing when the Germans invaded France… the security arrangement is the idea of
idealism. Basically, IR from 1919 to 2024, it has involved. It has been a lot of debates.
The first one is idealism but there is also realism, behavioursim, neo-realism, world-
system theory, critical theory, postmodernism. It got a lot bigger during the years.
Ontology is like the moon is made of cheese (you may believe something, but it is not
