Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 18 views

    IR Theory

    Uploaded by

    Rajvarsni N

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    IR Theory

    Uploaded by

    Rajvarsni N
    18 views6 pages

    Original Title

    IR theory

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    18 views6 pages

    IR Theory

    Uploaded by

    Rajvarsni N

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    of 6

    Three Schools of Thought in International Relations

    The world is divided into 3 schools of thought;

    (1) State Centric Approach -Emphasis on Power


    (2) Multi Centric Approach - Cooperation and Conflict will prevail
    (3) Global Centric Approach - It have Global Issues like poverty, environment,
    etc.
    State Centric Approach:

     In 400 BC, Thucydides – “History of Peloponnesian War”, who brought a


    systematic study of state function.

     In 250 BC, Chanakyas(Kautilya’s) who wrote “Arthasastra”-


     Arthasastra - Artha-Wealth, Sastra- Arts.

     Here the text talked about politics and economy. Nothing, but how to govern the
    wealth, how the state conduct their relations and how to govern the state.

     Mao – (Guerrilla Tactics) Here he talked about power as the core concept, which
    they used for struggle.

     Nicolo Machiavelli – “The Prince”, Machiavelli was the realist thinker. Give
    advice to the ruler and how to govern the state. Also provide assistance, how to
    conduct the diplomatic relations with your neighbours.

     State Centric, which deals with the power, ultimately they want of power. So
    State Centric related to Realistic kind of approach.

     State Centric approach can be studies under different approaches like Legal,
    Institutional, and Idealistic/utopian approach, Functionalism Approach, Neo-
    Functionalism and Regionalism. Further the State Centric approach can be studied
    under the Realistic tradition.

    Multi Centric Approach:


     Co-operation and Conflict will prevail in the international society.
     According Hugo Grotious – (He was a Jurist and father of international law) He
    says possibility of cooperation and conflict in international relations. He
    emphasized the international law that rules and regulations which will govern the
    states.
     In Multi centric Approach-Rationalism is the way for restructuring the society.

     Example: World War-I -Conflict and cooperation prevailed


    o Respecting the International Law - Birth of League of Nations, etc.
    Global Centric Approach:

     It stress for Revolutionary approach in international relations.

     The scholars like Immanual Kant, supported for Global Centric point of view,
    they wanted complete change of system.

     They want some change like Globalisation, MNC, NGO’s and Privatisation, etc.

    International Relations /External Sovereignty can be studies through two


    approaches, they are;

    (1) Classical Approach /Traditional Approach


    (2) Scientific Approach

    Classical Approach/Traditional Approach:

     Through this method, we can study about the relations between the
    sovereign states, related to peace, disarmament, International Law,
    International Organisation and their studies.

    For a better understanding of Classical approach, some of the methods have been
    adopted, they are;
    (1) Historical Methods
    (2) Philosophical Methods
    (3) Legal Methods
    (4) Comparative Methods
    (5) Analytical Methods.

    The classical approach helps has to understand the Idealistic theory.

    (2) Scientific Approach/ Scientific Theory :

    Scientific approach got its genesis after 1945

    Under Scientific approach there are some theory helps has to understand the
    international relations, they are;

    (1) Realistic Theory


    (2) Game Theory
    (3) Bargaining Theory
    (4) Decision Making Theory
    (5) Structural & Functional Theory
    (6) Exchange Theory, etc.
    These all the theory are the instruments to constitute for scientific theory.
    CLASSICAL & SCIENTIFIC METHODS

     Mind got five potentials, they are; Intuition, Imagination, Intention, Perception,
    Common Sense. If you, use any one of these concepts or combination of these
    five concepts, known as Idealism.
     Sense perceived by Observation and Experience known as Empiricism or
    Scientific Method or Realism.
     Body has had some potential like seeing, tasting, smelling, hearing, feeling
    (sensibility experience). So, Sense perceived by Observation and Experience
    known as Empiricism or Scientific Method or Realism.
     Knowledge arrived by mind known has Idealism.
     Knowledge gathered through experience known as Realism.
     Idealism and Realism are entirely different, they never combined each others. But
    they will exist but never have they crossed.

    Idealistic Approach or Rationalistic Approach

     The Idealistic Approach talks before 1945.


     The evolution of International Relations during the inter war period was based on
    3 – main factors;
     International Relations was Eurocentric
     Powers only five
     Extent of International relations was limited.

     The scope of the International relations was changed since World war-I, more
    non-economic issues has been debated, so frequency of international relations has
    been increased tremendously during the inter war periods.

     During 1817-1914 the international community finds that keeping of B.O.P. Here
    classical examples played by Britain, France, Germany. Then the B.O.P system
    was given emergence of allied powers and domination of western powers. Here
    the statesmen conducting the B.O.P, now they felt that need of other than B.O.P.
    But B.O.P no longer satisfied the mother country. Because of the result that
    League of Nations had been borne after World War-I, for the proper conducts of
    international relations.

     To regulate I.R’s, the Woodrow Wilson 14 principles had helped for the smooth
    functioning of League to lead the relationship among the different nations.

     For the functioning of League of Nations, the International Law, which supports
    and which regulates the I.R’s or International community.
    Basic Idea for Idealism/Rationalism

     There were three basic idea or assumption for Idealism, they are;

     Principle of self determination, advocated by Woodrow Wilson. His principle has


    been taken into account to study during the inter war periods.
     Diplomatic community said that if there is a war, it should not affect the society,
    if affecting means the leadership are the prime responsible. It shows the failure of
    the leadership, so leaders are bad, but the society is good. If you eliminate the
    leader, than your society will be good.
     Relaying upon justice and peace-Human Values act according to the rationality,
    who believes rationalism. Those who have good brain, they can generate good
    ideas. These ideas can be put into world politics. These ideas have been started
    since Plato period itself.

     So far the Negative value or idea can be easily helps has to take decision and
    some time we can reject it also. But in positive value or idea it will take more time
    to interact. So in international relations it is very easy to adopt the negative values
    but for positive ideas it will take more time to interact and presented in the logical
    way.

     Example: In implementing or exercising Democracy it is a very tough, but


    dictatorship it is very easy in the international politics.

    Strategy for Idealisms or Rationalism or Deductivism

     1918-1935 Rationalism worked to strengthening international organization. This


    was the first strategy adopted by rationalist. But after World War-II, the principle
    slightly modified in strengthening the international institutions.
     The second strategy for Idealistic is collective security.
     The third strategy is to perceive peace.Here rationalist rest on the own leaders,
    they won’t go outside.
     Example; Sukarno, Bertrand Russell, Nehru, M.Gandhi, Woodrow Wilson,
    Aldous Huxley, William Ladd, Richard Cobben, Margaret Mead, etc.

    Argument of Rationalist

    During beginning of the World War –I, the rationalists wanted to avoid war, “War cannot
    be instrument for International Peace”. This was the argument of rationalists. Normally
    the rationalists thought in traditional way.

    Rationalist are 3 –Groups:


    (1) International Organisation
    (2) International Law
    (3) Collective Security
    Through these 3 groups, they tried to achieve peace.
    Idealists want to create a spider web model; the center will be occupied by the spider.
    The spider is the International Organisation. Bilateral and multilateral race will connect
    them. Here the customs and conventions will regulate the life in the international society,
    along with values.

    The Main tenets of Idealism


    (1) Human nature is essentially good & capable of altruism (principle or practice of
    seeking the welfare of others)
    (2) Human nature and advanced civilizations are the concern of all.
    (3) Bad human behaviour is the product of bad environment and bad institutions.
    (4) War represents the worst feature of international relations.
    (5) War can be and should be eliminated
    (6) Global efforts are needed to end war, violence and tyranny in international
    relations.
    (7) International community should eliminate such global institutional features and
    practices which lead to war.
    (8) International institutions should work for preserving international peace,
    international law and international order and should be developed for securing
    peace, prosperity and development. As well as for eliminating war, hunger and
    other evils from the international scene.

    Reasons for Collapse of Rationalism

    The lessons of World War-I and there consequences were lead to Idealistic view of
    thought. If you go fighting, who is the winner or looser. Even though if your winner are
    what is the gain, hardly only few kilometers of territories and material. So bring solution
    to the problem was, war is not an instrument.

    Criticism for Idealistic Theory:

    (1) It runs short of factual position.


    (2) The nations do not behave has they are expected. As a result of the realism in
    international relations appear to be more near truth.
    (3) Emerging opinion of the idealism is impracticable(utopian)
    (4) A rigid adherence to idealism is likely to lead to frustration.

    Especially three Reasons Arrived at Idealistic View:


    (1) Leaders itself not respected during the period. Example – Woodrow Wilson was
    an advocator of rationalistic approach. But he himself not respected and follow
    the League of Nations principles during 1935.(That’s why society is good, leaders
    are bad, if you eliminate the leaders, than everything good)

    (2) Failure of Collective security concept-Mistrust or not trusting the other nations.

    (3) Failure of League of Nations-The league fails to protect the global community.

    Utility of Theory in International Relations

     Theorising is an aid to understanding international political phenomena

     Through co-relations may serve to illustrate the problems.

     It offers opportunities for effective inputs from the scope of theory to the realm of
    political action.

     Through the theory building, it helps has to prescribing policy guidelines.

     The policy scientist (theory builder) utilizes the prepositions of theory to enable
    his client to play a more powerful role in international politics.

    You might also like