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Nation-State
The primary unit of political organization. Dates from 1648 and the Treaty of Westphalia. Napoleon also contributed to emergence of the modern nation-state, by appealing to nationalism pride in being French to get men to volunteer for his army.
Historic systems
City-states (such as Athens, Sparta & Rome) Empires
disintegrating by end of 19th century many disappeared after WWI (e.g., the Austro-Hungarian & the Ottoman).
Nation-state defined
State: A sovereign government within an established territory. Nation: A community of people who identify with one another because they share important attributes: language, history, religion, race, culture, common political values.
Nation-State
Explosion of new states in the 20th century:
In Middle East after World War I In Indian subcontinent, Pacific rim & parts of Africa after World War II In Africa after 1960 In former Soviet Union after 1990
Sovereignty
The supreme governing power of a state. A powerful force in international relations. Even the smallest nations claim to have sovereignty. It has 2 components:
Power over internal affairs with freedom from external interference. Political and legal recognition by other nations.
Models of Analysis in IR
Dominant models: Political Realism Liberal Idealism Emerging models: Environmental Feminist
Models of Analysis in IR
Political Realism - Nation-states seek power to advance their own self-interest. Power defined in terms of military strength. Morality is irrelevant in international relations.
Ideas of Machiavelli (The Prince, 1532) Melian Dialog from The History of Peloponnesian War by Thucydides (416 BC)
Models of Analysis in IR
Melian Dialog (416 BC) Generals of the mighty city-state Athens confronted the Council of Elders of the island of Melos demanding that the island surrender to Athens. Did the Council of Elders do it? What happened?
Models of Analysis in IR
Liberal Idealism - Morality important in IR. Values of peace, justice & human rights. Nation-states interdependent and have incentives to work together through international organizations, such as UN, to resolve disputes rather than go to war. Security not based on military but on human factors (e.g., health and education).
Models of Analysis in IR
Environmental - Traditional national security focus is too narrow; needs to be broadened to include threats to global survival such as global warming, acid rain, loss of rainforests, oil spills. Such threats cross national boundaries and need international or regional responses.
Models of Analysis in IR
Feminism Traditional approach excludes female perspectives in IR. Military power ignores important gender-related issues such as rape as state policy, as occurred in Bosnia, or state policy stripping women of human rights, as under the Taliban. Old approach sees these as private crimes with no impact on international politics.
Global politics in
th 19
century
Balance of power system: military power was distributed in such a way that no one nation or group of nations was strong enough to threaten others. Peace thus secured. But with hardening of alliances & arms races, WWI exploded the old system.