The document defines conflict as an opposition of needs, values, and interests that can occur internally within a person or externally between two or more individuals, groups, or organizations. Conflict in political terms can refer to wars, revolutions, or other struggles that may involve force. The document goes on to discuss different types of conflict including personal conflict and nation-to-nation conflict. It also summarizes three main theories of international relations: liberal theory which believes human nature is good, realist theory which views the world as chaotic with states focused on survival, and radical theory which sees conflict arising from uneven distribution of resources between the rich and poor.

1. IR Resource 1D
CONFLICT
Student Friendly Learning Targets
I can describe theories of international relations.

2. What is Conflict?
1. Conflict - is defined as an actual or perceived
opposition of needs, values, and interests.
2. A conflict can be internal (within oneself) or
external (between two or more individuals).
3. Conflict as a concept can help explain many
aspects of social life such as social
disagreement, conflicts of interests, and fights
between individuals, groups, or organizations.
4. In political terms, "conflict" can refer to wars,
revolutions or other struggles, which may involve
the use of force as in the term armed conflict.

3. Personal Conflict
IR Resource 1D

4. Nation to Nation Conflict
IR Resource 1D

5. International Relations
Theories

6. Liberal Theory
 Liberal
Theory : A political theory that
believes that human nature is basically
good.
 Individuals form into groups and those
groups form into states.
 States generally cooperate and follow
international procedure but sometimes war
is not inevitable.

7. Realist Theory
Realist Theory : A view of the world
defined by assuming that the international
community is in chaos and consists of
political units called states.
 States are primary actors and possess some
offensive military capability or power which
makes them dangerous to each other.
 States can never be sure of the intentions of
other states, and a state’s motivation is
simply to survive.
 States think strategically how to survive.


8. Radical Theory
 Radical
Theory: The uneven
distribution of resources in the
international system creates conflict
between the haves and the have-nots and
influence all actions and interactions.
 Rich v. Poor
 Class Warfare
 Relatively new theory to paradigm