Chapter 1. Understanding International Relations PDF

International Relations CHAPTER 1. Understanding International Relations IR is a complex phenomenon that produces manifold effects on almost all of us. Increasingly ordinary citizens are realizing the relevance of international events to their own lives. Schools make their student more gl...

International Relations CHAPTER 1. Understanding International Relations IR is a complex phenomenon that produces manifold effects on almost all of us. Increasingly ordinary citizens are realizing the relevance of international events to their own lives. Schools make their student more globally aware. IR concerns people and cultures around the world. IR and Political Science As a field of study IR has uncertain boundaries. As apart of Political Science, IR is about international politics – the decisions of governments concerning their actions toward other governments. To some extent the field is interdisciplinary, relating to international politics to economics, history, sociology, and other disciplines. The focus of studying IR in PolSci is on politics of economic relationships, or the politics of environmental management.  Political relationships among nations cover a range of activities – diplomacy, war, trade relations, alliances, cultural exchanges, , participation in international organizations, and so forth. Particular activities in these spheres make up distinct issue areas in which scholars and foreign policy makers focus attention. Why dowe need to study International Relations? Reasons to study IR(Henderson, 1998) 1. Security Everyone wants a sense of security, a feeling of well being and freedom from harm. War is one of the most dreaded human experiences. Security threats today are not wars among great powers but numerous smaller conflicts operating mostly inside countries and scattered around the globe. i.e. Conflicts in Yugoslavia, Sudan, Somalia, Rwanda, Haiti, Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel-Palestine, Syria, and many more. Imperialistic Japan Results of Imperialism Holocaust in Poland, Belgium, Austria Mass deaths Mass Rape in Germany The darkest days of Nanjing Congo, Africa Never again!  Arms races are still concern Terrorism is a global security threat The world still a dangerous place and no one has the complete guarantee of security. 2. Global Economy Economic activity is a global phenomenon Countries around the world count on one another for the functioning of respective economies. The global economy highlights the interdependence of today’s world. Countries are experiencing mutual dependence. Interruption may have negative results i.e. Oil supply interference Policies regulating trade and commerce i.e. GATT  The gap between the capitalist and communist countries is decaying. Globalism is now a trend. Countries are now divided into Rich Industrial countries and “Third world” or Under-developing countries. Economic powers of rich and industrial countries. Economic exploitation Trade wars Beggar-thy-neighbor Countries absorb valuable economic resources in the forms of loans and foreign aids. 3. Health and Human Rights Concerns People’s health can harm the world AIDS, Malaria, Dengue Fever, SARS, Ebola Virus, Corona Virus, etc. Factors that affect heath and well being of people beyond borders Fukushima nuclear reactor meltdown Solid wastes problems Global Warming  Human rights concerns also have drawn attention of many people to the importance of IR. International organizations such as UN and Amnesty International demonstrate welfare of people oppressed around the world. Rohingya problem, Hongkong protests, Tibetan protest, etc. 4. Global Communication Electronic technology has created the “information age”. Ordinary citizens now become globally aware, including security, economic, and health concerns INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS It is the study of who gets what, when, and how in matters external to states or in matters crossing national boundary lines. i.e. Indonesia and Philippines negotiate over a fishery in international waters for their respective fishermen Also the US and Canada sharing a common boarder and working out on agreements on the travel of tourists, migration of animals, protection of resources, etc. The most common transnational activities today are trade and commercial exchanges. The who of IR States and countries of the world Non state actors: churches, international organizations, association representing ethnic groups, and even terrorists The what in IR The goals of actors. These could be political, economic, social, or cultural. The when in IR Range from the continuous activity by states providing for the security of their populations to the episodic activity of a private international organization. The how of IR The instruments actors use to achieve goals. These include military force, propaganda, foreign aid, diplomacy, and numerous others. World Anarchy and IR Absence of world government. Some scholars view the use of force and the occurrence of war as normal outcomes. World anarchy does not necessarily lead to disorder and violence. Countries frequently choose to avoid war and follow the norms and rules of international law. Is IR a solution to avoid world anarchy? Or an anarchy itself? Levels of Analysis The levels of analysis offer different sorts of explanations for international events. 1. Individual Level Concerns the perceptions, choices, and actions of individual human beings. Great leaders influence the course of history, as do individual citizens, thinkers, soldiers, voters, etc. A power seeker may lead countries to war. Man has instinct to follow an authoritarian leader. Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam Voltaire of France Mahatma Gandhi of India Nelson Mandela of South Africa Che Guevarra of Puerto Rico Abraham Lincoln of US Duterte of the Philippines 2. Domestic (or state or societal) level Concerns the aggregations of individuals within states that influence state actions in the international arena. Such as interest groups, political organizations, and governmental agencies. They can influence their government to take actions in international arena that are good for their interests i.e. business, rights protection, resource mobilization, etc. 3. Interstate (or International or Systemic) level Concerns the influence of international system upon outcomes. Focused on the interactions of states themselves, without regard to their internal makeup or the particular individuals who lead them. Pays attention to states’ geographic locations and their relative power positions in the international system. 4. The global level Explain international outcomes in terms of global trends that transcend interactions of states themselves. The evolution of human technology, worldwide beliefs, human relationships to the natural environment permeate down to influence IR.  World War 1 and IR What were the causes of WW1? What were the conditions for peace? What were the effects of economics to international relations?  The Interwar Years (1919– 1939) The peace settlements of 1918–1919  US President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points were the basis for many of the treaties. Appeasement powerful revisionist states like Germany and Japan were dissatisfied with the status quo created after the Great War and pushed hard to change the international system in their favor.  Germany and Japan ambitions were temporarily contained through a strategy of diplomatic concession called appeasement. This did not last long. Policies of conquest and expansion continued, drawing Britain and France (in September 1939), the USSR (in June 1941) and the USA (in December 1941) into the most destructive war in history – World War II. International Political Philosophy before 1920 Thomas Hobbes (1588–1672) lived during the violence and instability of the English civil war (1642–1651). He witnessed the immense suffering of the people around him. unpaid soldiers to wander the countryside, taking what they wanted and killing anyone who stood in their way. This experience gave Hobbes a particular outlook on the relationship between government and the individual – which is the focus of his most important book, The Leviathan, published in 1651.  He claims that all humans are relatively equal in their ability to harm and injure one another. One might be a little stronger and one might be a little quicker, but even the strongest man must sleep and even the quickest woman must stop to eat and drink. This makes all humans vulnerable to attack by another human. In a world without a government to enforce order – a condition that Hobbes calls the state of nature – every human must be vigilant against threats to their survival.  A world without government, he claims, forces humanity into a constant state of war because there is no way to trust in the good or peaceful intentions of others. We must always be on our guard lest we be attacked. This condition – in which there is no ruler or judge who can resolve disputes and establish security – is called anarchy.  Hobbes argues that our lives must revolve around survival, leaving no time for agriculture, the arts, sciences or international relations. In conditions of anarchy, Hobbes says, ‘the life of man [is] solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.’  The only remedy for this unfortunate situation is the establishment of a government capable of replacing the state of nature with order – a system of rules and laws. This, Hobbes continues, is best achieved by granting one ruler unqualified political, spiritual, economic and social power over a population. This ruler is the Leviathan of the book’s title, and is primarily responsible for replacing anarchy with order and, in so doing, replacing war with peace. World War I Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) Germany executed a swift offensive using railroads to rush forces to the front. Germany was declared winner. First World War or the Great War, was a global conflict that lasted from July 28, 1914, to November 11, 1918. Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria in 1914 Battle of Passhendaele (Belgium) – first chemical weapons were used in war Britain and Germany starved each others population to force surrender.  World War I, It involved many of the world's great powers, divided into two main alliances: the Allies (primarily France, the United Kingdom, Russia, and later the United States and Italy) the Central Powers (mainly Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria).  Russia suffered from a revolution which led to the formation of USSR. US joined the war as it grows anti-German. Treaty of Versailles was signed in 1919. Germany was forced to give up territory, pay reparations, and limit its future armament. Rise of Adolf Hitler US Woodrow Wilson influence to create the League of Nations. US Senate disapproved the US’ participation thus it failed. Key Causes of WWI 1.Militarism. European nations had built up large militaries and were ready to use them. 2.Alliances. A complex system of alliances meant that if one country was attacked, its allies were drawn into the conflict. 3.Imperialism. The competition for colonies and global dominance increased tensions. 4.Nationalism. National pride and ethnic tensions added to the instability. 5.Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The immediate spark for the war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary by a Serbian nationalist in June 1914.  1930’s Japan and Germany developed into expansionism Japan occupied Taiwan, Korea, and Major parts of China. Germany recruited ethnic Germans and allied with the fascists (Spain and Italy). Appeasement of Germany Munich Agreement of 1938 Britain let Germany invade part of Czechoslovakia. Germany also invaded Poland. Britain joined the war against the Germans  The Course of the War Trench Warfare. Much of the war, particularly on the Western Front, was characterized by trench warfare, where opposing armies faced each other in deep trenches, leading to a stalemate and high casualties. Technological Advances. New weapons, including machine guns, tanks, airplanes, and poison gas, made the war particularly deadly. Global Involvement. Though centered in Europe, the war involved colonies and territories worldwide, making it a truly global conflict. The World War II a global conflict that lasted from September 1, 1939, to September 2, 1945. It was the most widespread and deadliest war in history, involving over 100 million people from more than 30 countries. The war was fought between two major alliances: the Allies and the Axis powers. Major Participants Allies -The main Allied powers included the United States, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, China, and France. Axis - The Axis powers were primarily Germany, Italy, and Japan. World War II Hitler signed a nonaggression pact with Stalin (USSR) so that it could focus on its battle against the French. Hitler double crossed Stalin by invading parts of USSR in 1941. US produced critically important weapons and supplies for the Allied forces. It aided the British forces in bombing major German cities like Dresden. Germans’ fanatical policies of racial purity – exterminated 6 Million Jews, including homosexuals, Gypsies, Communists, and others. Mass murders are now known as the Holocaust and is considered as the greatest crime against humanity in history so far. Nuremberg Tribunal – responsible Germans and officials faced justice.  World leaders then pledged to “never again” allow genocide – systematic extermination of racial and religious groups. Bosnia and Rwanda genocides Key Causes of WWII 1.Treaty of Versailles. The harsh terms imposed on Germany after World War I led to economic hardship, political instability, and a desire for revenge, which contributed to the rise of Adolf Hitler. 2.Expansionism. Germany, Japan, and Italy sought to expand their territories, leading to conflicts with neighboring countries. 3.Appeasement. European powers initially tried to avoid conflict by allowing Hitler to annex certain territories, which only emboldened him. 4.Fascism and Militarism. The rise of fascist governments in Germany, Italy, and Japan led to aggressive military policies and the suppression of opposition.  Major Events Invasion of Poland. The war began with Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, prompting Britain and France to declare war on Germany. Battle of Britain. A significant air campaign waged by the German Luftwaffe against the United Kingdom in 1940. Pearl Harbor. On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, leading the United States to enter the war. D-Day. The Allied invasion of Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944, marked a turning point in the war in Europe. Atomic Bombings. The United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, leading to Japan's surrender.  Outcome World War II ended with the unconditional surrender of the Axis powers. The war significantly altered the global political landscape, leading to the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the creation of the United Nations, and the beginning of the decolonization process in Asia and Africa.