Lecture #1

Question 1

What does IR enable us to do?

Answer 1

• “Why” certain things happen
  understand key players
• Find out if there is an intrinsic pattern
• develop or identify theories to explain events
• create possible solutions

Question 2

IR is an interdisciplinary study that helps us understand…

Answer 2

• causes of war and maintaining peace
• nature of power and dynamics of inter-state relations
• changing characteristics of states and other actors
• standard values, laws, and modes of interaction between states

Question 3

What is an example of integration vs fragmentation tend in IR?

Answer 3

European Union (economic and political union) - successor to European Communities (1948)

Brexit (Jan 31, 2020) - UK pulled out of EU (started 2016)

Question 4

What are some trends in IR?

Answer 4

• integration and fragmentation
• terrorism & cyber warfare
• global warming
• transnational crimes
• interstate rivalry (civil war, state collapse, genocide)
• emergence of new states (post-WWII)