International Relations

1. International Relations

2. Introduction to International Relations • International Relations: how countries relate to one another, how they work together, and how they conflict. • A state or country is an independent, definedterritory with a government, a population, and sovereignty over these. • State sovereignty gives nations the right to carry out laws and policies within its borders without interference from other states

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

4. What’s a nation? • A group of people with a distinct identity. • What do these people share in common? race ethnicity history culture language religion

5. What’s the difference between interstate and intrastate? Interstate (or international) “Between states” Intrastate “Within a state”

6. DefiningNational Interest “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?

7. What are National Interests? What is best for a particular country Anything that is good for or beneficial to a country.

8. National Interests =Foreign Policy Goals The goals viewed as being beneficial to a country… … and that determine that country’s behavior.

9. A Country’s National Interests / Goals A Country’s Behavior (It’s Foreign Policy)

10. 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

11. 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.

12. A Nation’s interest… • Combines Security, Economic and Ideological concerns of a country • Must meet basic needs so it can survive and improve it’s citizens’ living standards • Examples of a nation’s basic needs… • Survival concerns: Mali and Bangladesh • Development of Natural Resources to trade: Niger and Malaysia

13. The Motivator of Security Interests • Physical survival is a universally shared concern. We build armies, create alliances  • Sense of national security is based on perceived threats from other nations. 1. Israel: few allies/strong military 2. Switzerland: few enemies/no large army

14. Motivator of Economic Interests • Countries seek to promote economic welfare • Countries vary in economic interests • Depends on availability of resources • Depends on development of resources

15. Developing Countries… • Need to obtain basics first (food, water, shelter, health care) • Lack agricultural methods and industrial developments to provide these • Cash crops/ raw materials are often traded for food • Attract foreign investment and tourism to supplement national income • Example: Sub-Saharan Africa

16. Industrialized Nations... • Turn out a variety of products including processed food, machinery, autos, computers, clothing etc. • Production often exceeds actual needs • Excess of manufactured goods is exported in exchange from raw materials, products or money • Economic growth is dependent upon ability to buy or sell products abroad. • Economic interests are determined by wants and needs of citizens, types of products to sell, and development of the economies

17. Motivator of Ideological Interests • Ideology is a combination of beliefs, values, culture, religion, and historical experiences of a nation’s people • Plays a unique role in National Interest • Countries are interested in protecting a way of life and trying to promote that abroad a) Example of US: promoting democracy in dictatorial nations b) Example of Iran: promotes religion of Shiite Islam.

18. Interdependence of National Interest • Concerns do not exist independently (economic interests affect security and ideological interests) • Example: If people do not have enough to eat, the stability and therefore the security of government may be threatened • Example: Some nations believe that the security of their nation depends on the adherence to a certain ideology and will go to war to defend it

19. “Ranking America’s National Interests” • Please complete the above titled survey • You will then work collaboratively to narrow your top three interests.

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

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

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

23. The Concept of Power in IR • 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.

24. What makes a country powerful? 1. Economic Power • The possession of products or resources that other nations want to buy. • The wealth to buy what other nations want to sell.

25. 2. Military Power • Having a strong enough military to deter (prevent) attack. • Having the ability to project military power overseas.

26. 3. Geography Geopolitics: The influence of geography on politics – especially on foreign policy.

27. Geopolitical Factors: aspects of geography that influence a nation’s foreign policy. Its size Its location 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

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

29. Thinking Geopolitically • To think geopolitically, what questions should be asked before using military force against the country outlined in yellow on this map? • With your group come up with 2 questions.

30. 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?

31. 4. The Acquisition of Modern Technology • May overcome other disadvantages. • Allows small countries to compete economically and militarily. 5. Strong National Resolve • Shared strong beliefs about the nation’s national interests and strong determination to achieve them. • Can overcome other disadvantages.

32. The Distribution of Power in the World Balance of Power: • A concept used in analyzing the distribution of power in the world. • When there is a balance of power, states enjoy relatively equal power and no one state is able to dominate.

33. Balance of Power Theory in Politics The idea that states will adopt policies or form alliances designed to keep any one state or group of states from becoming too powerful.

34. Ways That Power Can Be Distributed in the World A Unipolar System: An international system dominated by one powerful nation. Describes the world today in which the U.S. is the sole superpower.

35. A Bipolar System: An international system dominated by two powerful nations. Describes the Cold War system when there were two superpowers.

36. A Multipolar System: An international system where power is evenly distributed between four or more nations. No nation is dominant.

37. The Multipolar World of Tomorrow?

38. Unit 1 Day 4 (Fri. 4/16) • “Hobbled Hegemon” review on pg. 36 • Straw Structure Challenge on pg. 18 • Discussion & Debriefing

39. Straw Structure Challenge

40. Related Vocabulary: Hegemony The influence or domination of a powerful nation over other, weaker nations within its sphere of influence. Sphere of Influence An area of the world in which a powerful nation (a hegemon) exerts cultural, economic, military or political domination over other, less powerful, nations.

41. Imperialism: A policy of extending a country’s power through the acquisition of additional territory or through the direct control over other nations. Empire: Extensive territory or peoples under the direct control of a single, powerful state. Imperial power:. A state that controls an empire

43. “Carrot – and – stick” Etymology: From the traditional alternatives of driving a donkey on by either holding out a carrot or whipping it with a stick.

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

48. “Tools” of Foreign Policy What are they? The specific actions taken by a state in pursuit of its national interests. Three groups: • Political tools • Economic tools • Tools associated with use of military force

49. Key Tools of Foreign Policy Political Tools: Diplomacy: • Conducting relations between nations through negotiations and dialogue. • “ Tool of first resort” used by nations to peacefully resolve differences. • Carried out by diplomats.

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