International relations

Introduction to International Relations

Final exam
 Counts for 60%
 Review session - October 20th
 Test date – October 27th
 Final exam based on material in textbook and lectures
 Multiple choice exam
 40 questions – 27 questions correct for a passing grade
- Dates super general
- Exam on actual lecture
- Knowledge
- Application
- No need to know all details of historical cases mentioned in class or in
textbook
- No need to know all textbook material, but what complements or
support lecture material

Lecture 2 – Concepts and theories surrounding IR

Concepts
 Concepts are contested because;
- Their definition is rarely consensual
- Their meaning is not fixed in time
- Of ethno-centrism (guided by western influences)
 But concepts are useful to;
- Make sense of complex realities
- Make sure we are talking about the same things
- Ensure some degree of constructive dialogue
- Develop and evaluate theories

Theories
 We need theories because real life is too complex
- To many data points
- Too many variables
- Too many moving parts
 What does theory do
- Goes beyond more mere description
- Is an explanation: an answer to ‘why did this happen’
- Interprets data
- Identifies patters, regularities across time and space

What are international relations
 Who, what type of actors are we talking about?
 According to international law (Montevideo convention on the right and
duties of states)
- The state as a person of international law should possess the following
qualifications;
a) A permanent population – no refugees

, b) A defined territory
c) Government
d) And a capacity to enter into relations with the other states –
diplomatic mission
 But problems;
- Declarative vs. constitutive theory of statehood
- How the state is created in practice matters – context of creation (war,
violence) influences if the states will recognise them
- Internal sovereignty: states monopolise some functions within its
territory – if only one state is recognised in the territory
Vs. external sovereignty: recognition and autonomy (de jure)
 States are simply a unit of analysis – entities with well-defined
population, territory and recognised political authority over a
geographical space

 Complicated scenarios
- A pseudo-state
- De facto-state
- Contested state
 What the state is not
o Vs. a nation – a group of people that are united by some degree by
some common traits (language, culture, etc.)
- Nation state – a social construction created within another state (not an
actual reality)
o Vs. non-state actors
- Pirates, VOC, mercenaries
o State and sovereignty
- Failed/fragile states
- Globalisation
- Supra-national and global governance
- Disaggregated states

 What, what type of relations are we interested in?
What are international relations?
 Interactions
- War and peace, trade, international agreements
 Bilateral (interaction in 2 states) vs. multilateral (interaction between
multiple states)
 But in fact, any state actions (or inactions) which affect other states
 Not just about interstate relations
- Transnational relations
- Non-state and sub-state actors
What are international relations?
 International politics vs. national (or domestic) politics
- Also called level of analysis – framework is a type of theorising,
analytical tool to think and organise IR
a) International
b) National/domestic
c) Individual

,  It matters from a theoretical perspective
 National order vs. international anarchy
- No sovereign -> no clear authority -> no supranational authority
- War of all against all (Hobbes)
- Fear and I were born twins together (1588)
- Self help

 Where, where are these actors interacting?
- Everywhere
- International organisations


Should we recognise the IEA (Islamic emirates of Afghanistan)?
 Yes?
- Control and monopoly of the use of force
- Police and military force
- Acting government, bureaucracy
- Some (limited) diplomatic outreach
 No?
- No official recognition from other states
- Legitimacy, Inclusive government? – It came by force, woman have no
good access to education
- Governance capacities? – Offered minimal services

Was ISIS a state?
 Yes?
- Control and governance of large areas of territory
- Available tax revenue
- Police and military force
- Infrastructure services
 No?
- No UN membership
- No recognition from other states
- Legitimacy?
- Fluctuating population – territory kept changing, people kept fleeing
- Limited state capacities

Lecture 3 – History of IR 1500 – 1989

History and IR
 Historically, two overlapping fields (EH Carr)
- But separate disciplines
 History is important for IR
- Background to contemporary events
- To distinguish continuity from change
- To provide the context behind theories & concepts
- State, nation, sovereignty, power
- Dating/benchmarking/periodisation of IR is already interpreting &
theorising