International Relations: Meaning, Nature and Scope | Political Science

Since the beginning of civilisation, the states are mutually inter-linked and in modern times due to the development of science and technology, the world has greatly shrunk. The situation in one part of the world have an immediate impact on the rest of the world. Therefore, the states maintained regular relations with other states of the world.

A state without other state is nothing, and in present complex life a state without relations with other states cannot survive. There are various kinds of needs of the states such as materialistic means, religious, economic requirements, industrialisation, security matters and trade etc., which brings the states together. Inter-state wars have resulted in post-war treaties, economic and friendly agreements and international organisations. All these things are studied by international relations.

Thus, in the international arena, interdependence has been created between the States. In view of this interdependence of states, a separate discipline called “International Relations” has been created for the purpose of discussing in detail how to establish peace and prosperity in the world through cooperation, avoiding conflicts, wars, etc.

Until 1970s, the study of International Relations centred mainly on international security studies, i.e., questions of war and peace.  Scholars believed, a nation’s military power was the most important characteristic in determining how that nation would relate to other. Thus, scholars focused on military strength of one nation compared to others, alliances and diplomacies between nations, and strategies nations use to protect their territories and further their own interests. Since 1970s, the importance of economics in international relations has increased. The primary force driving the interaction between nations is economic not military. There is trade and economic relation between nations, especially in political cooperation between nations to create and maintain international organisations such as World Bank, IMF etc.

In both security studies and international political economy, experts try to explain patterns of conflict and cooperation among nations. Conflict among nations are expected since their political and economic aims and interest often depart. Cooperation does not refer to the absence of conflicts, but to the ability of the nations to peacefully resolve their differences in a way that is acceptable to all parties involved. When cooperation fails, conflict often escalate into coercion and ultimately war.

The term International Relations was first used by Jermy Bentham in the later part of the 18^th century with regard to the laws of the nation. Consequently, the term International Relations was used to define the official relation between the sovereign states. The political, social, cultural and economic relations among nations may be included in the scope of the subject.

Norman D. Palmer and Howard C. Perkins are highly significant figures in the academic study of International Relations (IR), particularly recognized for their comprehensive textbook International Relations: The World Community in Transition. Their work is often cited for providing a broad definition of IR that encompasses both political and non-political relations among nations. They defined IR to encompass "much more than the relations among nation states and international organizations," including various transnational relationships, non-state actors, and non-political aspects, going beyond a narrow focus on state conflict.

Meaning / Definition of International Relations

• According to Hans J. Morgenthau, International politics include analysis of political relations and problems of peace among nations. It is also the struggle for and use of power among nations.
• According to Quincy Wright, International Relations includes relations between many entities of uncertain sovereignties and that it is not only the nations which International Relations seek to regulate. Varied types of groups, nations, states, government, people, region, alliances, confederations, international organisations, cultural organisations, religious organisations must be dealt within the study of international relations, if the treatment is to be made realistic.
• According to Hoppman, international relations is concerned with the factors and affinities that affect the external policies and the powers of the basic unit into which the world is divided.
• According to Trevor Tayor, international relations is the discipline that tries to explain political activities across state boundaries.

Nature of International Relations

The nature of International Relations is dynamic. International Relations is a thorough analysis of what is happening in the world politics. The context and nature of international relations have undergone major changes after the end of World War – II. Traditionally, world politics was centred around Europe and relations among nations were largely conducted by officials of foreign officials in secrecy. The common man was hardly involved and treaties were kept secret, today, public opinion had started to play an important role in decision making process in foreign offices. Thus, changing completely the nature of International Relations.

Ambassadors once briefed by the governments were largely free to conduct relations according to the ground realities of the countries of their posting. Today not only nuclear weapons change, the nature of war and replaced erstwhile the balance of power by the balance of terror, but also the nature of diplomacy changed as well. We live in a jet age where the heads of state, government and their foreign ministers travel across the globe and personally establish contacts and conduct international relations.

Before World War – I, a traveller from India to Britain spend about 20 days in the sea journey. Today it takes less than 9 hours for a jet aircraft to fly from Delhi to London. Telephones, fax machines, internet and other electronic devices have brought all government leaders in direct contact. Hotline communication between Washington and Moscow, for example, keeps top world leaders in constant touch. This has reduced the freedom of ambassadors who receive daily instructions from their governments.

The Post-World War II period saw a huge shift in world politics. World politics was divided into two parts: such as the NATO led by the USA, and the Warsaw Pact led by the USSR. The collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s led to a kind of unipolarity in world politics. However, economically growing Asian countries such as China, India, Singapore, Vietnam and various South American countries such as Brazil are all significantly influencing world politics.

Then growing importance of non-state actors like NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations), MNCs (Multi-National Companies) etc. are also discussed in the field of International Relations.

Due to increasing human activities, the relations among various states has been changing and due to this continuous change in international relations, the nature of international relation has been changing. Now it has become difficult to explain the nature of international relations.

However, there are few important points explaining the nature of international relations:

1. No single definition – International relations have no single definition. No universally accepted definition of the international relations have been coined because of its continuous changing nature.
2. Operates in anarchical system – International relations operate in anarchical system. There is no single organisation to regulate among states. Michel Nicolson says that, “international relations is study of aspects of anarchy, through an anarchy which is not necessarily chaotic.”
3. Concerns with global issues – International relations deal with key issues which concerns public global interest. For example, every country has an interest in stopping global warming, goal that can be achieved only by many countries acting together.
4. Nations are primary actors of International Relations – Politics is a process of interaction among groups and international politics is primarily a process of interaction among nations. Nation states are the key actors but along with the several non-state, transnational, and multinational groups which also play an important role in international relations.
5. National interest is the primary objective – National interest is the objective that each nation aims to achieve in elation with other nation. International politics basically involves the art of preserving or securing goals or national interest by using control over other nations.
6. Conflicts as the condition of international politics – The possibility of making national interest compatible to accommodation, adjustment and reconciliation leads to some cooperation among nations. But in case there is incompatibility among national interest of various nations, then it becomes a source of conflict. As such conflicts and cooperation as well as coercion and persuasion, are always present in international relations.
7. Power as the means – In conditions of conflicts, each nation attempts to secure the goals of their national interest. The means for securing these goals is power. That’s why each nation is continuously engaged in the process of acquiring, maintaining, increasing and using power. A power that backs a nations’ attempt to secure its national interest, is called national power.
8. International politics as a process of conflict resolution among nations - Conflicts is the condition of international politics. It is most important element of international politics because in absence of conflict of interests, power can have little function to perform. Conflict is at the root of both dispute and cooperation among nations. However, at the same time it cannot be denied that the existence of conflicts compels the nation with similar goals of national interest to cooperate with each other.
9. Interaction among foreign policies – Since international environment is very complex and dynamic, and each nation has to act in conditions characterised by conflicts, cooperation, competition, war, tension, and uncertainties. It is essential for each nation to perform on the basis of foreign policy. The relations among nations mostly take place in the form of interaction among the foreign policy of nations.

Scope of International Relations

As a subject of study, international relations is relatively new and developing subject. Its scope is continuously expanding and developing.

The scope of international relations: -

1. State System – The study of international relations begins with the state system as it has a great impact on international scene since last three centuries. Sovereign states strive to fulfil their interest. The incompatible interest of these sovereign states cause conflict, and international politics studies those national outcomes of conflict of sovereign states. Not all states come in conflict with other states. Some due to military, economic, racial, or cultural links cooperate with each other peacefully.
2. Relation in conflict and cooperation – International relations studies relations between two or more states which are often complex and influenced by a variety of geopolitical, historical, social, religious, ideological, strategic, and leadership factors. Broadly speaking, these relationships have taken the form of cooperation and conflict. In spite of the fact there are more conflict in international history than cooperation, both have co-existed throughout the various period of history of international relations.
3. National Interest – It is an unclear concept that carries a meaning according to the context in which in which it is used. Governments have always used it in ways suitable to them and to their objective of justifying the actions of their state. It is the national interest that determines the shape of scope of international relations of countries. This in turn, affects the direction of global relations. Accordingly, the scope of international relations includes the study of objectives of various countries, they try to achieve under their national interest.
4. Power – It is ultimately the power that determines the inter-state relations. The success or failure of a country that achieves the objective it has set under its national interest is depending upon the extent of national power of a country. Thus, super power will be in better position to pursue its national interest agenda, than a regional or smaller power. The study of national power forms an important part of the subject matter of international relations.
5. Foreign Policies – Strategies chosen by a nation state to safeguard its national interest by interacting with other states are reflective in its foreign policy. By studying the foreign policies of various nations, one can hope to understand the present day international relations. In the past, kings or Prime Ministers or a few individuals played an active role in determining foreign policy. Today, not only governments, leaders, but also citizens are involved in formulation of foreign policy. The state of affairs or ideology in foreign policy, the ideological issues of the respective regimes are an important part of International Relations.
6. International Economic Relations – The increased importance and role of economic and trade relations in global affairs cannot be over-looked, and can hardly be under-estimated. Bi-lateral or multi-lateral economic relations in the form of trade, investment, aid, etc. form a very important part of international relations. They are the most important means of influencing the course, context, and direction of relation among the nation states. Hence, the study of economic relations forms an integral part of the scope of international relations.
7. Non-State Actors – Apart from the study of state system, the study of non-state actors also forms an integral part of international relations. These non-state actors can be violent as well as non-violent. Violent non-state actors, whether they form genuine liberation movements or pure terrorist organisations, have been playing a larger than life role in international relations. Similarly, non-violent, non-state actors such as MNCs, NGOs, and other such actors in the international environment forms an integral part in the study of international system.
8. Concepts and Ideas – International Relations can be studied from another perspective also. These perspectives are formed by certain concepts and ideas which have been dominating the study of international relations since its inception. For example, concepts like international law, the balance of power, dictatorship, capitalism, public opinion, etc., have guided and are still guiding and controlling the relation of nations in their global dealings.
9. Study of current issues and events – International relations is the study of major contemporary issues and events which are the immediate drivers of inter-state relations at any time. Scope of international politics include the study of these issues like global warming, terrorism, etc., and events like wars and conflicts which shape and condition the behaviour of nations in international relations.