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Lec 1

I. Introduction to International Relations (IR)

  • Core Definition: The study of interest-based interactions at the international level.
  • Key Components: Includes both political and non-political relations among states and non-state actors.

II. Types of IR Definitions

  • Narrow-Based Definition: Focuses exclusively on political relations between states.
  • Broad-Based Definition: Includes non-state actors and non-political relations.

III. Elements of IR

  • Interest: The driver of relations, categorized as common or conflicting.
  • Nature of Relation: Categorized as either political or non-political.
  • Actors: Entities involved, ranging from states to non-state organizations.
  • Level of Analysis: The perspective used for study, including individual, state/society, or global levels.

IV. Evolution of International Relations

  • Historical Progression: Started from clans, evolving into city-states, empires, and finally the nation-state system.
  • Turning Points: World War I and World War II necessitated the systematic study of IR to understand global conflict and the impact of information technology and globalization.

V. Non-State Actors

  • International Organizations (IOs): Intergovernmental organizations requiring state consent.
  • Multinational Companies (MNCs) / TNCs: Profit-seeking entities operating across multiple countries.
  • International NGOs: Non-profit organizations operating internationally.
  • Transnational Interest Groups: Groups defined by ethnic or religious movements.
  • Other Actors: Includes international media, civil society, and terrorist organizations.

VI. Nation-State System

  • Core Principles: Based on territorial integrity, equality, political independence, sovereignty, and recognition.
  • Sovereignty: The internal governing authority responsible for providing facilities to citizens in exchange for loyalty.
  • Systemic Breakdown: Occurs when states fail to provide required facilities, leading to the loss of citizen loyalty and global instability.

VII. Global Expansion of the Nation-State System

  • Non-colonized States: Countries that voluntarily adopted the system to remain competitive.
  • Decolonization: Newly independent nations adopted the system through exposure to Western political education during colonial periods.

VIII. Challenges to the Nation-State System

  • Globalization: Challenges traditional borders and state sovereignty.
  • Separatism: Movements within a state that reject the current national identity.
  • Fundamentalism: Conflicts that undermine internal equality and freedom.
  • Irredentism: Historical claims by one state over another's territory.