International Relations
By
Zahid Mehmood Zahid
https://www.facebook.com/groups/14412
3599347978/
National Officers Academy (NOA),
Islamabad.
Recommended Books
1 Books (Part I, II) available at NOA Book Store
2 “Globalization of World Politics: An introduction to
international relations”
4th edi. by John Baylis, Steve Smith, Patricia
Owens
3 “International Relations”
10th edi. by Joshua S. Goldstein and Jon C. Pevehouse
Introduction
• The definition and Scope of IR
• The Nation State System
• Evolution of International society
IR - a World of Possibilities;
Pak-Soviet relations, Pak- Russia relations today.
Pak-US relations, Pak-US relations today.
Turkey’s relations with Russia, Turkey’s relations today.
Saudi relations with Israel, relations today.
South-North Korean relations, and the recent thaw.
IR analysis necessitates IR sense
Think in terms of IR, and always use the language
and principles IR deals in.
IR is more foreign policy oriented and less focuses
on domestic politics.
IR has less regards for ‘Religious morality’.
IR operates through levels.
Individual: Charismatic Leader, Poor Decision
Maker, Greedy Leader, aggressive, timid Leader
Domestic: Democracy, Dictatorship, Elections,
Autonomy
International: Wars, Diplomacy, Alliances, Trade
agreements
History of IR and what is it all about…?
IR is relatively a new field of study established in the
after math of WWI.
IR became an academic discipline in 1919 when
university of Aberystwyth (UK) established IR
department.
IR is the branch of Political Science & It provides
methods and Frameworks of understanding the
world.
IR Defined:
“Official relations among states”,
Jeremy Bentham
“IR encompasses relations among states,
International organizations and groups. It includes
variety of international relationships at different
levels, above and below the state level in the
international system”
Palmer and Perkins
Ingredients of IR
Political and social issues.
Economics.
International Organizations, World Bank, IMF, WTO,
BRICS, ASEAN)
National power & National Interest, Alliances.
War and Diplomacy,
Nuclear Proliferation & Weapons,
Foreign policies,
and many more.
Scope of IR
Few Scholars say, scope covers govt to govt relations -
dealing with war and peace. (limited definition)
Other scholars believe IR covers political, economic
and social relations through institutions like UNO, SCO,
ASEAN, ECO, EU etc. (comprehensive definition)
Scope – the fields IR deals with;
Politics, economics, Law, history, diplomacy, security,
globalization, nuclear proliferation, terrorism,
environment, and human rights etc.
Why study IR?
First, It expands your understanding beyond domestic
horizon.
Secondly, very few other subjects cover such a broad
range of topics.
Think Critically …!
Why do we identify ourselves as Pakistanis, Indians,
Iranians, Chinese, Canadians, and Russians?
What is sovereignty?
Are all states equal?
If Yes, Why do countries like US and Russia interfere
into other countries of the world?
Evolution of Nation State System
Nation
“A large body of people united by common history,
culture, identity, and language, inhabiting a particular
state or territory”.
Nation State
A nation state has defined territory with a sovereign
government, with population sharing a common culture,
history, and language.
Nation State System
“A pattern of political life in which people are separately
organized into sovereign states and interact with one
another”.
Modern Nation State System.
The nation-state is a recent phenomenon.
Where state is supposed to protect its citizens from all
types of threats.
For that purpose nation States use methods like
diplomacy and wars.
Where has this concept come from?
Rise of Nation State System
Prior to the 1500s, nation-states did not exist in
Europe.
People used to identify themselves with their region
or feudal lord.
Feudalism was not only an economic system but
also was a political system.
Crusade wars and decline of Feudalism
After Crusades wars European soldiers returned home
with tales of the wealthy Muslims.
They started demanding independence from local
lords.
Rise of the Modern Nation-State System
During 16th and 17th centuries Holy Catholic Church
was ruling the West.
But, few kings wanted to have control over religious
affairs to get absolute power.
In England, Henry VIII broke away from the Pope and
established an independent Protestant church in the
1530s.
‘Thirty Year War’ 1618-1648
The war involved almost entire Europe, including
Germany, Austria, Sweden, France, and Spain.
Protestants defeated Catholics.
Treaty of Westphalia 1648 ended the war.
Treaty of Westphalia established that;
“sovereign ruler of a state will control nation, state, and
religion.”
Resultantly, England, France, Germany, and Spain
became nation states.
Treaty of Westphalia (1648)
Treaty was meant to settle conflicts, especially
conflicts over religion.
Pope regarded this treaty as ‘null’ and ‘Sin’.
Over the course of time, State system brought
democracy, int. Law, diplomacy, and mutual trade
etc.
Principles of Westphalian Treaty
Sovereignty,
Legal Equality of states,
Non-intervention
The UN Charter
Chapter 1: Purposes and principles
Article: 2 (1) The organization is based on the
principle of the sovereign equality of all its member
states.
Article: 2 (4) All members shall refrain in their relations
from the threat or use of force against the territorial
integrity or political independence of any state …...
Outcomes of Treaty
1- Religion; Treaty Favoured secularism and made
religion private affair of the individual.
Reformation movement had begun in 1517-1648
against unbiblical practices of Catholic Church.
2- Nationalism
In the absence of religion Nationalism became the
new religion for Europe.
Significance of Nation State System
Each state can decide the best for its people with
out external pressures.
Other states, no matter how powerful, do not have
the right to intervene into other sovereign countries.
The principle of autonomy does not allow exploitation
of the weaker state by powerful states.
Challenges to the state system
Global Terrorism (Al-Qaeda, ISIS)
Globalization (WTO, IMF, World Bank, MNCs)
Regionalism (EU, ASEAN)
Humanitarian intervention (Libya)
Questions to attempt;
Explain significance and scope of IR in a changing
world. What are the salient features of modern
nation state system?
Discuss why has nation state been such a successful
political unit? Analyse how far future of the state will
be affected by an interdependent world?
How do you see the role of nation state in the future,
given that that globalization and MNCs are
undermining state authority?
