The document provides an extensive overview of the field of international relations (IR), covering its definition, nature, evolution, and scope. It highlights the evolution of IR theories from liberalism and realism to neo-realism and neo-liberalism, as well as the emergence of various debates and paradigms such as Marxism and the English School. Additionally, it discusses the increasing complexity of international interactions and the impact of new state actors and global institutions on global affairs.

1. INTRODUCTION TO IR
• Definition to IR
• Nature of IR
• Evolution of IR
• Scope of IR

2. General Definition
• International relations represent the study of foreign
affairs and global issues among states including the roles
of the states, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs),
non- governmental organizations (NGOs), and
multinational corporations (MNCs).

3. Stanley Hoffman writes “the discipline of international
relations is concerned with the factors and the activities
which affect the external policies and power of the basic units
into which the world is divided.” Thus, international relations
is concerned with all the exchange transactions, contacts,
flow of information and the resulting behavioral responses
between and among separate organized societies.
International relations could encompass many different
activities social, economic, religious and so forth in so far as
they have implications for international political relations.

4. Trevor Taylor defines International Relations as "a
discipline, which tries to explain political activities across
state boundaries".
According to Ola, Joseph, "International relations are the
study of all forms of interactions that exist between
members of separate entities or nations within the
international system".

5. Nature of IR
• IR encompasses much more than relations among nation
states and international organization and groups.
• It includes a variety of transitional relationships at various
levels, above and below the level of the nation states.
• International relations are a multidisciplinary field
gathering together the international aspects of politics,
economics, geography, history, law, sociology,
psychology, philosophy and cultural studies.

6. (cont.)
• Role of public opinion, Ambassadors
• Today, not only have nuclear weapons changed the
nature of war and replaced erstwhile the balance of power
by the balance of terror, but also the nature of diplomacy
changed as well.
• Decolonization has resulted in the emergence of a large
number of sovereign states. Thus, international relations
are now conducted by such a large number of new nation
states.

7. Evolution of IR
• Origins of IR: Thucydides' (History of Peloponnesian
war), Chanakya's (Anthashastra) and Niccole
Machiavelli's ll Principe (The Prince).
• WW-I brought economic collapse, widespread famine,
diseases
• Traumatic experience started the inspiration to study IR
(bankruptcy, limitations of European diplomacy etc)

8. i. Liberal approach to IR:
• idealism, utopianism, liberalism
• Talking about ills of international system and how to avoid
further wars
• Basic assumption: human beings are rational and when
they apply reason to IR, they can setup organization for
the benefit of all .. Therefore emphasis was laid on
outlawing war, disarmament, international law and
international organizations.
• Chief advocates were Alfred Zimmerman, Norman Angell,
Woodrow Wilson

9. ii. League of Nation's :
• It was based on Wilson's 14 points.
• Assumption: Realpolitik is like a jungle, where dangerous
beasts roam and the strong and cunning rule, whereas
under the LON the beasts are put into cages reinforced by
the restraints of international organization into a kind of
zoo.
*Realpolitik: a system of politics or principles based on
practical rather than moral or ideological considerations.

10. iii. Academic approach towards IR:
• Woodrow Wilson chair of international politics 1919,
Jerusalem 1929, Oxford University 1930, London school
of economics 1936 etc. etc..
• Firm belief was that by promoting the study of IR it would
be possible to bring about peace via international law.

11. iv. Backdrop of liberalists:
• Legalistic- moralistic approach, highly descriptive and
prescriptive, established ideals while ignoring the harsh
realities of IR, also led to the outbreak of WW-II in 1939..
• Fascism and Nazism grew in Italy and Germany and rise
of authoritarianism in central and Eastern Europe..
League of nation's totally got failed.. Severe economic
crisis of 1930s led states to think about policy of
protectionism rather interdependence.
• This led to the emergence of first great debate of IR in
post World War II period.

12. v. Realism:
• Critique of liberalism
• an anti thesis of idealism
• Advocates were E.H Carr, George Kennan, Hans J.
Morgenthau and others..
• Assumption: gave importance to states as the principal
actor and their interests to be the only reality. Conflict of
interest is one inevitable, resulting in anarchical
international system and it is the situation of world politics
that shapes the choices of the states where each state
defines it's interests in terms of power.

13. vi. Shortcomings of realism:
• language and method to study IR
• Behavioral revolution in social sciences focusing to apply
scientific method of study..
• Emerged second great debate on IR
• Critique was that they were theorizing a theory rather
theorizing about international relations.
• Advocates: Quincy Wright's “Study of War", Morton
Kaplan's “Systems and Processes in International Politics”
and Charles McClelland's “Theory of International
System”

14. Reformation
of realism and
liberalism
behavioralist
1960s-1970s
Behaviouralism
claims it can explain
political behaviour
from an unbiased,
neutral point of view

15. vii. Reformation of liberalism: Neo-
Liberalism
• plurality or multiplicity of actors.
• concept of complex interference..
• Assumption: put forward non military paradigm of
international relations and argued for peaceful and
cooperative international relations
*plurality: a political theory or system of power-sharing
among a number of political parties.

16. (cont.)
• Along with other strands of neo-liberals, pluralists got
much attention because of its approach towards IR
• They were of the view that side by side any kind of int.org
there is a necessity of non state actors as the MNCs, IMF,
world bank etc etc..
• Advocates: E. Hass, Robert Keohane, Joseph Nye

17. viii. Reformation of realism: Neo Realism
• Assumption: builds upon the principles of classical
realism while linking conceptually to other theoretical
efforts
• Advocate: Kenneth waltz
• focused on the structure of international system,
• international politics became more then the summation of
foreign policy of the states and external balance of other
actors.

18. ix. Thoughtful process towards IR:
• Barry buzan and Robert Keohane (introduced the concept
of deep structure)
• political structure encompasses anarchy as well as
hierarchy and it includes not only power and institutions
but also rules and norms..

19. x. Starting a neo-neo debate: third great
debate of IR
Neo-Liberalisms Neo- Realism Behavorialism Neo Marxism
a political
approach that
favors free-market
capitalism,
deregulation, and
reduction in
government
spending.
Neorealism or
structural realism
is a theory of
international
relations that says
power is the most
important factor in
international
relations
It represented a
sharp break from
previous
approaches in
emphasizing an
objective,
quantified
approach to
explain and predict
political behaviour.
Neo-marxism is an
offshoot of
marxism, in which
it is believed that
all societal ills
come from the
divide between the
rich (who are
claimed to be
undeserving of
their wealth) and
the poor (who are
claimed to be
oppressed)

20. • Marxism
• Marxist viewpoint provided powerful insights into the
origin and development of international system which is
roughly divided into the dominant north and dependent
south.
• Assumption: Talked about world system theory and
dependency theory…
• Advocate: Immanuel Wallenstein

21. xi. English school paradigm
• Till the end of Cold war there was a change around this
time in the way IR was seen.
• English school paradigm paved the way when American
scholars lessened.
• Advocate: Hedley bull
• Assumption: Emphasis was laid on society of states or
international society. It focused to provide an alternative of
premises which are neither Hobbesian nor utopian.
*Hobbesian: people have a fundamental right to self-
preservation and to pursue selfish aims but will relinquish
these rights to an absolute monarch in the interest of
common safety and happiness.

22. xii. Further Developments:
• Afterwards new debates began addressing
methodological as well as substantial issues.
• Currently a new debate is going on that challenges the
established traditions in IR by alternative approaches
(post positivist era)....

23. Scope of International Relations:
• with the study of law and diplomatic history, the scope of
international relations has steadily expanded
• With growing complexity of contacts between nations, the
study of international organizations and institutions
attracted the attention of scholars
• The outbreak of the Second World War gave a strong
stimulus to area studies and strategic aspect of foreign
policy.

24. • This led to efforts to understand better the dynamics of
national liberation struggles and anti-colonial movements.
• The study of cooperation became important even as the
study of conflict remained central
• New topics like ideology and disarmament assumed
unprecedented importance in the era of cold war
• The state system is undergoing modifications; a
technological revolution has taken place in a very big way;
new states of Asia and Africa are playing increasingly
important roles.

25. • The world has virtually become a "global village", as
interdependence of states has increased manifold.
• Economic relations between states, the role of
international institutions like the World Bank, International
Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization today
influences economic activity all over the world.