The basic structure of International Relations: Theories and Concepts

Question 1

What is the fundamental idea behind the study of international relations?

Answer 1

International relations begins with the premise that the international environment exhibits a basic amount of organisation.

Question 2

What is sovereignty?

Answer 2

Sovereignty is the supreme power or authority that gives a state the power to govern itself

Question 3

What are the three main theories in international relations?

Answer 3

International society, international community and international system

Question 4

What is the basic idea behind the theory of international society?

Answer 4

States are sovereign but accept basic rules of the “game” (international law etc) in their own self-interest

Question 5

What is one of the key elements of international society?

Answer 5

States claim sovereignty, however they still recognise one another’s right to the same prerogatives (mutual recognition)

Question 6

How have members of the international society been defined in the past?

Answer 6

By “standards of civilisation”

Question 7

Who are the agents within the international society?

Answer 7

State representatives and office holders

Question 8

What evidence is there for the existence of an international society?

Answer 8

Diplomacy, international law and international organisation

Question 9

What is the idea behind an international community?

Answer 9

The renewed interest in the concept and characteristics of global governance

Question 10

What is the idea behind an international system?

Answer 10

The system is composed of ‘sub-systems’ which include states, inter-governmental organisations (IGOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

Question 11

What is an actor in international relations?

Answer 11

Anything that makes a difference in the international system

Question 12

What caused the emergence of the modern state?

Answer 12

The Treaty of Westphalia 1648

Question 13

What year was the Treaty of Westphalia rectified?

Answer 13

1648

Question 14

What did the Treaty of Westphalia recognise?

Answer 14

The independence and equality of territorial entities.

Question 15

What are the two key principles of the ‘Westphalian system’?

Answer 15

1) States enjoy sovereign jurisdiction - they have independent control over what happens within their territory and this therefore means that all other groups are subordinate to the state.
2) Relations between and among states are structured by the acceptance of the sovereign independence of all states.

Question 16

What is self-determination?

Answer 16

The process by which a country determines its own statehood and forms its own government.

Question 17

What is sovereign equality?

Answer 17

The equality of states in relation to each other regardless of size or power

Question 18

What is a state?

Answer 18

A legal political entity

Question 19

What is a nation?

Answer 19

An ambiguous concept that refers to a group of people united by ties such as shared history, religion, blood, kinship, culture or language.

Question 20

Why in the 21st century can we say we are moving “beyond the Westphalian system”?

Answer 20

Increased globalisation - increased interconnectedness and interdependence

Question 21

What is complex interdependence?

Answer 21

States are drawn into cooperation and in particular intergration by forces such as closer trading and other economic relationships.

Question 22

What theorists defined “complex interdependence”?

Answer 22

Robert Keohane and Joseph Nye