International Relations Theory PDF

1. Defining International Relations 2. International Relations as a Field of Study 3. Theories and Models 4. Levels of Analysis  Strictly defined: IR concerns the relationships among world governments. But these relationships cannot be understood in isolation.  These relationships a...

1. Defining International Relations 2. International Relations as a Field of Study 3. Theories and Models 4. Levels of Analysis  Strictly defined: IR concerns the relationships among world governments. But these relationships cannot be understood in isolation.  These relationships are closely connected with other actors, with other social structures, and with geographical and historical influences.  As a part of Political Science, IR is about international politics.  However, the field of IR is interdisciplinary, relating international politics to economics, history, sociology, law and other disciplines.  IR overlaps with Comparative Politics in Foreign Policy Analysis (FPA).  IR covers a wide range of activities. Particular activities within one of these spheres make up distinct issue areas.  Within each issue area, and across the range of issues of concern, policy makers can behave in a cooperative manner or a conflictual manner.  The scope of the field of IR may also be defined by the subfields it encompasses. International International Political Security Studies Economy, IPE  IR scholars want to understand why international events occur in the way they do.  One way to provide answers is descriptive.  Another way is theoretical.  Understanding IR requires both descriptive and theoretical knowledge.  IR is rather a practical discipline.  Various methods / methodological approaches on the Empirical-Theoretical continuum are used to develop and test different theories. Empirical Approaches that mix theories Theoretical with empirical evidence Induction Deduction  Because of the complexity and unpredictability of IR, scholars do not agree on a single set of theories to explain IR. One way to look at the LIBERAL variety of theories is to distinguish between (Freedom) 3 broad theoretical perspectives: Evolution of status quo Real-World Politics mixes these three perspectives in various ways. Primacy of Individual Primacy of Society REVOLUTIONARY CONSERVATIVE (Justice) (Order) Overthrow of status quo Preservation of status quo Conservative, Liberal and Revolutionary World Views  Many influences affect the course of IR, and one way scholars of IR have sorted out this multiplicity of influences is to categorize them into different levels of analysis.  A level of analysis is a perspective on IR based on a set of similar actors or processes that suggests possible explanations to “why” questions.  1. Global Level Technological Change, Information Revolution, Global Telecommunication, Global Environmental Change... etc. 2. Interstate Level IGOs, Summit meetings, Alliance formation & dissolution, Treaties… etc. 3. Domestic Level Type of government, level of economic development, public opinion, political parties, military-industrial complex... etc. 4. Individual Level Great/crazy leaders, Decision making in crises, Psychology of perception and decisions... etc. Levels of analysis offer different sorts of explanations for international events: Ex.: The 1999 Kosovo War between Serbia & NATO Individual Level: the war may be attributed to the irrational gambles and mistaken judgments of Serbia’s leader, Slobodan Milosevic. Domestic Level: the war may be attributed to the fragmentation of Yugoslavia’s multiethnic federation, which left Kosovo as a province of an aggressively nationalistic Serbia. Interstate Level: the war may be attributed to the balance of power process, in which an aggressive state was contained by a counter- coalition of states (NATO). Global Level: the war may be attributed to technological changes in air war.