Level of international relations in the world

Debate

1. Meaning Nature and Scope of International
Relations

2.  International Relations entails the study of
interactions between the states. These
interactions may include various aspects of
relationships like;
 Political,
 Economic and
 Cultural.

3.  Since its inception, international relations has been
defined in many ways. Writers differ greatly upon the
definition of the subject.
 Prof. Charles Schleicher defines international relations
as the relation among States.
 Quincy Wright defines international relations as
"relations between groups of major importance in the
life of the world at any period of history.“
 According to Prof. Hans Morgenthau, international
relations is a struggle for power among nations.

4. The Nature of IR can be understood under the
following framework;

a. Cooperation
b. Conflict
c. Competition
d. Compliance

5.  Systematic Study of the Behaviour of Actors
In international relations, we study & analyze the
behaviour of actors as Goldstein & Pavehouse in his book,
‘International Relations’  write, “International relationship
among the world’s governments are closely connected
with other actors.”  Actors include any institution as well
as individual influencing policies & decision of
government in the international perspective. Actors
consist of individual leaders and citizens, bureaucratic
agencies in foreign ministries, MNCs and terrorist groups.
Actors can be classified into state actors & non-state
actors.

6.  State Actors
“A state is a territorial entity controlled by a government
and inhibited by a population. A state government
answers to no higher authority; it exercises sovereignty
over its territory-to make and enforce laws, to collect
taxes, and so forth. This sovereignty is recognized
(acknowledged) by other state through diplomatic
relations and usually by membership in the United Nations
(UN). The population inhibiting a state forms a civil
society to the extent that it has developed institutions to
participate in political or social life”

7.  Head of government (such as a prime minister) &
head of state (such as president, or a king or a
queen) are called state leaders. The state actor
also includes the individual leaders as well as
bureaucratic organizations (such as foreign
ministries) that acts in the name of state.

8.  Non-State Actors
Excluding state actors all other comes under non-
state actors. Non-state actors influence decisions of
state actors (state government). These actors are
also called  transnational actors when they operate
across international borders.

10.  There are Four Levels of Analysis encompassing
the scope of IR.

a. Individual Level of Analysis
b. National or State Level of Analysis
c. Interstate Level of Analysis
d. Global Level of Analysis

11.  Individual Level of Analysis
This analysis concerns the perceptions, choices, and
actions of the individual human beings. How
individuals have or are shaping the international
environment.
There are great names like, Nelson Mandela, Martin
Luther King, MA Jinnah, Gandhi, Mao Tse Tung,
Viladimir Lenin, Abraham Linclon etc
Among Contemporaries, there are prominent world
leaders and stakeholders.

12.  State Level of Analysis
This level of analysis concerns the aggregations of
individuals within states that influence state actions
in the international arena. Such aggregation include
interest groups, political organizations, and
government agencies.

13.  Interstate Level of Analysis
This level of analysis therefore focuses on the
interactions of states themselves, without regard to
their internal makeup or the particular individuals
who lead them. This level pays attention to states’
relative power positions in international system and
interaction (for example, trade) among them. It has
been traditionally system the most important of the
level of analysis.

14.  The Global Level of Analysis
This level of analysis seeks to explain international
outcomes in term of global trends (such as evolution
of human technology, era of globalization and many)
and forces that transcend the interactions of states
themselves.

15.  The Study of International Relations includes
various studies;
1. Study of State Systems
2. Study of relations among states
3. Study of national Interests
4. Study of national Power
5. Study International Trade
6. Study of International Political Economy
7. Study of International Law

16. 8. Study of Geopolitics
9. Study of war and Peace
10. Study of Conflict Management and Conflict
Resolution
11. Study of Ideologies
12. Study of Nationalism, colonialism and
imperialism
12. Study of National Character
13. Study of Disarmament