This document provides an introduction to concepts in international relations including what international relations studies, definitions of key terms like country, state, sovereignty, and nation-state. It also summarizes different approaches to foreign policy like isolationism vs internationalism and tools of foreign policy such as diplomacy, alliances, trade, foreign aid, and sanctions. Current world trends are outlined as growing interdependence, US influence declining and rise of other powers, spread of democracy and technology. National interests and how they drive foreign policy decisions are also explained.

1. Intro to the World Today Units #1 & #2

2. World Today - BASICS

3. International Relations is thestudy of what? How countries __ ? __ to / with each other. relate interact

4. Guess the four key “C” words that go in the blank. How countries _ ? _ to/with each other. cooperate communicate compete conflict

5. Definitions of International Relations Text “The study of how countries relate to one another, how they work together, and how they conflict.” Glossary “The study of how states and other international actors interact with and relate to each other.”

6. There are 194sovereign states in the world today. What’s another word for state? State and country mean exactly the same thing.

8. A permanent population

9. A government

10. Sovereignty

11. What’s sovereignty? The right of an independent state to control what happens within its borders without interference from the outside.

13. What do these people share in common? race ethnicity history culture language religion

14. What’s a Nation-State? The political entity formed when people belonging to the same nation form their own state.

15. INTRODUCTION TO GEOPOLITICS

16. Geopolitics: The influence of geography/demographics on politics – especially on foreign policy.

17. Geopolitical Factors: Aspects of geography/demographics that influence a nation’s foreign policy. Its size Its location Its climate Its population Its borders and terrain Its control of critical resources Its need for critical resources Its access to water Its neighbors (its proximity to allies and enemies) Its strategic interests around the globe

18. Our size Our location Our borders and terrain Our control of critical resources Our need for critical resources Our access to water Our proximity to allies and enemies Our strategic interests around the globe Give some examples of how these aspects of geography have influenced U.S. foreign policy – now or in the past:

19. Geopolitics involves the competition between states for : The control of strategically important territory. Access to resources. Influence throughout the world.

20. Thinking Geopolitically To think geopolitically, what questions should be asked before using military force against the country outlined in yellow on this map?

21. Thinking Geopolitically… What part of the world is this? Is this a strategically important part of the world? How far is this country from the U.S.? What is the value of this country/area in terms of natural resources, trade, bases, etc. to the U.S.? What are the natural barriers to invasion, such as seas or mountain ranges? Are the surrounding countries friends or enemies of this country? Would they support our invasion? Are the surrounding countries friends or enemies of the U.S.? What is the make-up of this country’s population? Will the people there welcome or hate us?

22. CURRENT WORLD TRENDS

23. 1. Growing interdependence & regionalization Modern World Trends (Post-Cold War)

24. 2. Continued influence/power of U.S. Why is the U.S. so powerful & influential? Modern World Trends (Post-Cold War)

26. 3. Growth of democracy & free market economies 4. Advancement of Technology & spreading of this technology throughout the world Modern World Trends (Post-Cold War)

27. 5. Multipolar global system will develop 21st century will be defined by the rise of everyone else. Modern World Trends (Post-Cold War)

28. REVIEW OF NATIONAL INTERESTS

29. “Underlying the behavior of nations is the concept of national interest” What question does this statement answer? Why do nations behave the way they do? DefiningNational Interest

30. What are National Interests? What is best for a particular country (TEXT) Anything that is good for or beneficial to a country.

31. A Country’s National Interests / Goals A Country’s Behavior (Its Foreign Policy)

32. Key Ideas About National Interest A country’s national interests change over time. Each country’s interests are unique, but all countries share these broad goals: State sovereignty Territorial integrity Military security Economic well-being

33. Citizens often disagree on what their country’s national interests are. National interests are ultimately defined by a country’s leaders. A country’s national interests will determine its foreign policy.

34. INTRODUCTION TO FOREIGN POLICY

35. Developing Foreign Policy “In every nation, leaders develop a foreign policy --or a course of action--to pursue the national interests of their countries.”

36. What is Foreign Policy? “A course of action developed by a country’s leaders to pursue the national interests of that nation.” (Text) “The actions taken by a government in pursuit of a country’s global interests and goals.”

37. National Interests (Goals) Foreign Policy (Actions taken in pursuit of goals)

38. The Concept of Power in International Relations What is Power? Power refers to a nation’s ability to influence the actions of other nations. Why is Power Important? Powerful nations are more likely to reach their foreign policy goals than less powerful countries.

39. A country’s ability to carry out its foreign policy relies on its POWERS! 1. military power 2. economic power 3. geopolitical factors 4. technological power 5. national resolve

40. MILITARY POWER Having a strong enough military to deter (prevent) attack. Having the ability to project military power overseas.

41. A large diverse economy allows you to have a great influence in the world Have ability to trade worldwide Country contains strategic resources Have enough wealth to invest in foreign markets or buy foreign goods ECONOMIC POWER

42. GEOPOLITICAL FACTORS Countries gain power from things like…. Control of resources Terrain Size Location Population

43. With advanced technology countries believe they can compete with more powerful nations Ex.’s: better weapons, education, communication, etc. TECHNOLOGICAL POWER

44. Definition – when people share strong beliefs about national interests & a strong desire to achieve them STRONG NATIONAL RESOLVE

45. TOOLS OF FOREIGN POLICY

46. What are they? The specific actions taken by a state in pursuit of its national interests. States have political, economic, & military tools! “Tools” of Foreign Policy

47. Did you ever hear the phrase “Carrot – and – stick”? comes from the idea of driving a donkey by either holding out a carrot or whipping it with a stick.

48. Carrot–and–stick foreign policy: “Characterized by the use of both reward and punishment to induce cooperation”

50. Diplomatic Relations: formal contact established between two governments

51. “Tool of first resort” used by nations to peacefully resolve differences.

52. Carried out by diplomats

53. ambassadors are the highest ranking diplomats representing our interests in other countries (work in embassy)Political Tool: Diplomacy

54. America’s Top Diplomats The “Chief Diplomat”? Cabinet member responsible for day to day diplomacy?

56. Negotiates agreements with foreign countries.

58. Countries Without Diplomatic Relations with the United States: Bhutan Cuba Iran North Korea

60. Political Tool: Alliances An alliance is a multilateral agreement among nations to protect each other in case of attack Based on idea of collective security –the idea that peace and security is best achieved by states acting together to confront aggression.

61. Our most important alliance? NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

62. Political Tool: International & Regional Organizations The purpose of joining these organizations is to have a place to cooperatively address problems that affect all/most nations International Org. example: United Nations – wants to promote peace! Regional Org. example: European Union – wants to promote economic cooperation

63. Political Tool: Propaganda Nations use propaganda (one sided info) to gain support of its policies or to discredit the policies of others

65. Quotas

67. Recalling one’s own diplomats.

68. Expelling another country’s diplomats.

69. Breaking off diplomatic relations.

70. Refuse to attend an event/conferencePolitical & Economic Tool: Sanctions

71. Economic & Military Tool: Foreign Aid 1. Economic aid – given in form of cash grants, loans, food, technology 2. Military aid – cash grants, weapons, training programs, military advisors

72. Military Options 1. Show of Strength – position armed forces around world to show power 2. Terrorism – commit acts of violence or destruction to gain attention for political causes 3. Limited Military Response – short term actions to force another nation to back down from dispute 4. War – last resort military action Military Tool: Use of Force

74. -Numerous solutions could be applied

76. Approaches to Foreign Policy Isolationism Internationalism Policy of isolating one’s nation from the affairs of others Means avoiding alliances with other states and following a policy of strict neutrality . Supporter of sovereignty Policy of active involvement in world affairs. A policy of economic and/or political cooperation with other nations in an attempt to gain benefits for all

78. Was Washington an Isolationist or Interventionist?

79. Appeasement Taken to the extreme, a policy of trying to avoid war may result in appeasement -- a policy of buying off an aggressor by giving in to its demands.

80. Interventionism Non-Interventionism Policy of a nation to intervene into another nation’s affairs Interventionists was to use military force, or the threat of force, to interfere in another nation’s affairs. Why would a nation ever want to intervene into someone else’s problems? Policy that a nation will avoid alliances and all wars (unless self-defense situations arise) Why would a nation use this policy? Approaches to Foreign Policy

81. Approaches to Foreign Policy Unilateralism Multilateralism A policy of acting alone –without consulting allies. What’s the problem with this policy? A policy of acting together with other nations. What’s the problem with this policy?

83. states should abandon the use of force and encourage cooperation of societies=This means states look out for others, besides themselves!