A RESEARCH-BASED PRESENTATION ON:

THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AS AN
ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE

BY:
AISHATH SASHA FAZLOON (0370361)
HIROTO AMANO (0370583)
INTRODUCTION
IMPORTANCE OF STUDYING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS:

Helps us understand the complexities Fosters greater cooperation among states and non-
of global issues such as climate state actors, leading to better outcomes in areas
change, terrorism, pandemics, and such as trade, human rights, and sustainable
economics. development.

Policymakers and scholars can develop IR enables us to respond effectively to emerging

strategies to prevent conflicts and challenges such as cyber threats, nuclear
promote peace and security. proliferation, and the rise of new global powers.

(Jindal Global University, 2024)

DEFINITIONS OF IR:

"the study of how states "International politics, IR can be defined as the

interact with each other like all politics, is a study of relationships and
and with non-state actors struggle for power. interactions between
in the international countries, including the
Whatever the ultimate
system, focusing on activities and policies of
aims of international
issues of conflict, national governments ,
cooperation, and power" politics, power is international
always the immediate organizations , NGOs,and
aim" multinational
corporations.

(Waltz, 1979) (Morgenthau, 1948, p. 25). (Weber, 2022, p. 4)

BRIEF There is a deep connection between the Treaty of
Westphalia (1648) and International Relations.

HISTORICAL The Peace of Westphalia:

Is credited with establishing the concept of state
sovereignty.
CONTEXT recognized the authority of over 300 German
principalities and established the precedent that
HIGHLIGHT: each state, regardless of its size, had sovereignty
over its territory and domestic affairs.

The Treaty of The Westphalian principles influenced:

the development of realist theory in international
Westphalia and it’s relations
which emphasizes the role of the state, national
impacts on IR as an interest, and the importance of power in global
politics.
academic discipline.
In conclusion, the treaty established the concepts of
state sovereignty, international law, and international
order, which contributed greatly to the development
of international relations studies.
EMERGENCE OF ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS
The field of IR formally began after World War I, with In 1943, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
the establishment of the first department at the specialized in diplomacy,
University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 1919.

Later, Graduate Institute of International Studies was followed in 1946 by the United Nations University for
founded in 1927.The focus here was on the study of research on international security, and
international law.

In 1930, Princeton University solidified IR as an in 1955 by Stockholm International Peace Research

academic discipline by emphasizing academic Institute,which specialized in international relations
research and policy analysis.Later, IR continued to related to the military.
evolve, integrating disciplines such as political
science, history, and globalism as well.
EARLY THEORIES &
THINKERS Idealism
Focuses on international cooperation,
morality, and law.

Realism Prominent figures: Immanuel Kant and Woodrow

Wilson, who advocated for collective security and
Emphasizes power politics and the pursuit of international institutions (Ashworth, 2014).
national interests.
Thinkers like Thucydides and Machiavelli
highlighted the importance of state power
and security (Donnelly, 2000).
Classical Geopolitics
Example :
Machiavelli's “The Prince” is foundational in Studies the influence of geography on state
realist thought, providing practical advice on behavior and strategy.
political leadership and power dynamics Key contributors: Halford Mackinder and
(Machiavelli, 1532/2008). Alfred Mahan, who explored the strategic
importance of geographic locations (Parker,
1998).
INTERWAR PERIOD

World War I (1914) reshaped Europe and caused significant catastrophes.

The League of Nations was established in 1920 to maintain peace and prevent conflicts.

The League failed due to the U.S. non-participation and lack of enforcement mechanisms.

Its failure led to World War II.

Post-WWII, institutions emerged to study international cooperation and collective security.

Focus shifted to analyzing state behavior and the role of international institutions.
POST WORLD WAR 2

Post-WWII, international relations studies diversified.

Topics expanded to include international trade, globalization, and financial stability.

The role of international organizations and multilateral cooperation, such as the UN and
Bretton Woods system, gained emphasis.

Research focused on the mechanisms of the international economy and cooperation.

Trade friction, aid, and sanctions in economic policy became key areas of study.
COLD WAR
THE DOMINANCE OF THE DOMINANCE OF
BIPOLARITY REALISM
The DOminance of Bipolarity (US and Soviet Union as Modern realism: began as a reaction to the
the only superpowers during the Cold War) breakdown of post WW1 international order in the
Some realist scholars such as John Mearsheimer 1930’s; the collapse of great-power cooperation after
suggest that Bipolarity ended with the Soviet Union’s WW2 helped establish realism as the dominant
political and military retreat from Eastern Europe. approach to the theory and practice International
Others attribute biploarity’s end to the breakup of the Politics in the US. During the Cold War, efforts to
Soviet Union as a State. (Lebow, 1994) displace realism from its dominant position were
repeatedly thwarted by the continued silence of the
U.S-Soviet antagonism: although indirect, the
connection between events and theory was
undeniable. (Wohlforth, W. C., 1994)
CONT.

EMERGENCE OF GAME THEORY AND

DETERRENCE THEORY

For example - Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) and the

brinkmanship strategy employed by both
Weapons control and disarmament negotiations
superpowers. (Shaabani, S., & Gordji, M. E., 2023) this
were essentially repeated games that allowed both
study shows how a dynamic system of
parties (U.S and the Soviet Union), to reward
strategic games can provide a frame for analysing
cooperation and punish defection.
what sorts of cooperative
behaviours among players can potentially yield an
exit from the conflict.
POST-COLD WAR ERA
The End of Bipolarity The Rise of Globalization Democratic Peace Theory

The breakup of the The creation of the The post-Cold War

Soviet Union in 1991 -> World Trade spread of democracy in
rise of multiple new Organization (WTO) in Eastern Europe and the
states -> redefinition of 1995 illustrated the subsequent reduction in
international alliances growing importance of conflicts among these
and power dynamics. global trade agreements newly democratic states
This shift required new and international supports the Democratic
theoretical frameworks economic cooperation, Peace Theory, a key
to understand a world no central themes in neo- component of liberal
longer dominated by two liberalist theory international relations
superpowers (Keohane, 1984). theory
(Lebow, 1994). (Doyle, 1986).
METHODOLOGICAL APPROACHES
NORTH AMERICA: QUANTITATIVE EUROPE: NORMATIVE AND
METHODS & POSITIVISM CONSTRUCTIVIST APPROACHES
In NA, the study of IR often emphasizes quant methods Utilization of normative and constructivist approaches, by
and positivist approaches. Using statistical analysis and European researchers.
empirical data to test hypotheses about international E.G: The development of the European Union (EU) as a
behaviour. supranational entity has been extensively studied through
E.g: the Correlates of War (COW) constructivist lenses, highlighting the importance of
(Singer, 1972). shared values and collective identity (Risse, 2000).

LATIN AMERICA: DEPENDENCY THEORY ASIA: HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL

AND CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES CONTEXTUALIZATION
Dependency theory is often employed by Latin American Integrates historical and cultural contextualization to
scholars, as well as and critical approaches to examine the understand regional dynamics.
region's international relations. Chinese IR theory, for instance, often draws on classical
Dependency theory - critique of structural inequalities in Chinese philosophy and history to frame contemporary
the global system that perpetuate the economic strategic and diplomatic behavior.
dependence of developing countries on developed ones.
EARLY FOUNDATIONS OF IR
REGIONAL & SUBFIELD AND SECURITY STUDIES
In the aftermath of World War Security Studies emerged as a
II, the study of International prominent subfield, addressing issues of
war, peace, and the balance of power.
Relations (IR) became more
The formation of NATO in 1949 and the
formalized, focusing heavily start of the Cold War further stimulated
STUDIES

on security and conflict. research in this area (Morgenthau,

1948).

COLD WAR AND REGIONAL INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF

STUDIES EUROPEAN UNION STUDIES
1980s = significant developments in
During the Cold War, there was an
European integration = the Single European
increased focus on the Soviet Union,
Eastern Europe, and the Third World. The Act in 1986. This period = institutionalization
establishment of area studies programs of European Union Studies as a distinct field,
in universities aimed to understand focusing on the political, economic, and
different regions in the context of global legal aspects of European integration
Cold War politics (Brzezinski, 1960). (Sandholtz & Stone Sweet, 1998).
CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES
& EXPANDED FOCUS
Environmental Studies and Terrorism and Security Human Security and
Climate Change Studies Development

Growing awareness of The attacks of The concept of human

global environmental September 11, 2001, and security gained prominence,
issues and climate the subsequent War on focusing on protecting
change has led to the Terror significantly individuals from non-
emergence of impacted Security traditional security threats
Environmental Studies Studies, expanding the such as poverty, disease, and
within IR, examining the focus to include natural disasters. This shift
international dimensions terrorism, is evident in the United
of environmental policy counterterrorism, and Nations' adoption of human
and sustainability homeland security security principles (Kaldor,
(Keohane & Victor, (Crenshaw, 2001). 2007).
2011).
REFERENCES
Doyle, M. W. (1986). Liberalism and World Politics. The Lebow, R. N. (1994). The Long Peace, the End of the
American Political Science Review, 80(4), 1151-1169. Cold War, and the Failure of Realism. International
https://doi.org/10.2307/1960861 Organization, 48(2), 249-277. Retrieved from
https://libraryoflights.wordpress.com/wp-
Singer, J. D. (1972). The Correlates of War Project: content/uploads/2012/12/international-relations-theory-
Interim Report and Rationale. World Politics, 24(2), 243- and-the-end-of-the-cold-war.pdf
270.
https://doi.org/10.2307/2010540 Wohlforth, W. C. (1994). Realism and the End of the
Cold War. International Security, 19(3), 91–129.
Morgenthau, H. J. (1948). Politics among nations: The https://doi.org/10.2307/2539080
Struggle for Power and Peace. Alfred A. Knopf.
Shaabani, S., & Gordji, M. E. (2023). GAME THEORY
Weber, C. (2022). International Relations Theory: A AND A NEW INSIGHT INTO HOW THE CUBAN MISSILE
Critical Introduction (5th ed.). Routledge. Retrieved from CRISIS WAS RESOLVED. International Journal of Cuban
https://books.google.co.jp/books? Studies, 15(1), 39–49.
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