Week 1
‘The dangers of cultural essentialism’
SMJ
Sørensen, Møller, and Jackson, Chapter 1
What is International Relations (IR)?
IR Defined
● IR (International Relations) studies interactions between:
○ Countries
○ National governments
○ International organizations (IGOs)
○ NGOs and multinational corporations (MNCs)
● It can be theoretical, practical, empirical, or normative.
● IR is interdisciplinary, overlapping with:
○ Political science
○ History (especially diplomatic history)
○ International law
○ Economics
○ Philosophy and ethics
IR as a distinct academic discipline emerged in the early 20th century, though its roots
stretch back to thinkers like Thucydides.
Why Is IR Important?
,The central reason: we all live in sovereign states that are part of an interconnected
global system.
● States are:
○ Bordered territories with permanent populations
○ Governed independently (sovereign)
● The modern state system includes ~200 countries.
● Despite sovereignty, states interact constantly—through:
○ Diplomacy
○ Trade
○ Conflict
○ Cooperation
Even isolated states (e.g., North Korea, Libya, or Myanmar) are deeply affected by their
position within this system.
The Evolution of the International State System
● Earlier forms of state systems existed in:
○ Ancient India
○ Greece
○ Renaissance Italy
● The modern system began in Europe (16th–17th century).
● By the 19th and 20th centuries, it became global.
● The state system is a specific form of territorial political organization, and
Antarctica is the only major exception.
IR helps us understand the implications of living in a world of states, particularly through
the five core values people expect from them.
,Core Social Values States Are Expected to Uphold
1. Security
● Protection from internal and external threats
● However, the existence of armed states also creates risks, known as the security
dilemma:
○ States arm themselves for protection
○ This often threatens others, increasing overall insecurity
Realist IR theories (e.g., Morgenthau) emphasize this competitive and
conflict-prone nature of international politics.
2. Freedom
● Includes:
○ Personal liberty
○ National independence
● Independence is a precondition for personal freedom:
○ Seen clearly during occupations in WWII (e.g., Nazi invasions of European
countries)
● Peace is essential for freedom and progress.
Liberal IR theories (e.g., Claude) stress cooperation among states to promote
peace, freedom, and progressive change.
3. Order and Justice
● Order means predictable, lawful interactions between states.
● Justice includes:
○ Keeping treaty commitments
, ○ Respecting international law
○ Upholding human rights
International Society theories (e.g., Bull) focus on states as social actors
working to preserve both order and justice through shared norms.
4. Welfare
● Refers to economic well-being:
○ Employment
○ Investment
○ Trade
○ Price stability
● Because economies are globally intertwined, domestic welfare depends on:
○ International markets
○ Foreign investment
○ Exchange rates
○ Global trade dynamics
IPE (International Political Economy) theories (e.g., Gilpin) highlight the
socioeconomic dimension of IR, focusing on interdependence, inequality, and
economic power.
When Do We Notice IR?
People tend to become aware of IR and its key values during crises:
● Security: 9/11 attacks, Cuban missile crisis
● Freedom: WWII occupations, post-colonial independence movements
● Order/Justice: Gulf War, Bosnia and Kosovo conflicts, human rights abuses
‘The dangers of cultural essentialism’
SMJ
Sørensen, Møller, and Jackson, Chapter 1
What is International Relations (IR)?
IR Defined
● IR (International Relations) studies interactions between:
○ Countries
○ National governments
○ International organizations (IGOs)
○ NGOs and multinational corporations (MNCs)
● It can be theoretical, practical, empirical, or normative.
● IR is interdisciplinary, overlapping with:
○ Political science
○ History (especially diplomatic history)
○ International law
○ Economics
○ Philosophy and ethics
IR as a distinct academic discipline emerged in the early 20th century, though its roots
stretch back to thinkers like Thucydides.
Why Is IR Important?
,The central reason: we all live in sovereign states that are part of an interconnected
global system.
● States are:
○ Bordered territories with permanent populations
○ Governed independently (sovereign)
● The modern state system includes ~200 countries.
● Despite sovereignty, states interact constantly—through:
○ Diplomacy
○ Trade
○ Conflict
○ Cooperation
Even isolated states (e.g., North Korea, Libya, or Myanmar) are deeply affected by their
position within this system.
The Evolution of the International State System
● Earlier forms of state systems existed in:
○ Ancient India
○ Greece
○ Renaissance Italy
● The modern system began in Europe (16th–17th century).
● By the 19th and 20th centuries, it became global.
● The state system is a specific form of territorial political organization, and
Antarctica is the only major exception.
IR helps us understand the implications of living in a world of states, particularly through
the five core values people expect from them.
,Core Social Values States Are Expected to Uphold
1. Security
● Protection from internal and external threats
● However, the existence of armed states also creates risks, known as the security
dilemma:
○ States arm themselves for protection
○ This often threatens others, increasing overall insecurity
Realist IR theories (e.g., Morgenthau) emphasize this competitive and
conflict-prone nature of international politics.
2. Freedom
● Includes:
○ Personal liberty
○ National independence
● Independence is a precondition for personal freedom:
○ Seen clearly during occupations in WWII (e.g., Nazi invasions of European
countries)
● Peace is essential for freedom and progress.
Liberal IR theories (e.g., Claude) stress cooperation among states to promote
peace, freedom, and progressive change.
3. Order and Justice
● Order means predictable, lawful interactions between states.
● Justice includes:
○ Keeping treaty commitments
, ○ Respecting international law
○ Upholding human rights
International Society theories (e.g., Bull) focus on states as social actors
working to preserve both order and justice through shared norms.
4. Welfare
● Refers to economic well-being:
○ Employment
○ Investment
○ Trade
○ Price stability
● Because economies are globally intertwined, domestic welfare depends on:
○ International markets
○ Foreign investment
○ Exchange rates
○ Global trade dynamics
IPE (International Political Economy) theories (e.g., Gilpin) highlight the
socioeconomic dimension of IR, focusing on interdependence, inequality, and
economic power.
When Do We Notice IR?
People tend to become aware of IR and its key values during crises:
● Security: 9/11 attacks, Cuban missile crisis
● Freedom: WWII occupations, post-colonial independence movements
● Order/Justice: Gulf War, Bosnia and Kosovo conflicts, human rights abuses
