International Relations.

Theories of International Relations

International relations are both the practice and the study of the relations of nation-states and other
entities (Ентітіс) of the international system in the fields of pOlitics, econOmics, and security. In a broader
sense, it concerns all activities between states— war, diplomacy, trade, and foreign policy—as well as
relations with and among other international actors, such as intergovernmental organizations, international
non-governmental organizations, international legal bodies, and multinational corporations. The scientific
study of those interactions is more frequently called international studies or international affairs.
Professionals work in government, and non-prOfits to understand and develop cooperative exchanges
between nations that benefit commerce (кАмес), security, quality of life, and the environment.
As a political activity, international relations date back to the time of the Greek historian Thucydides
(фАсідайдс). Despite the fact that international relations have existed since ancient times, the term itself
appeared comparatively recently - it was introduced by the English philosopher J. Bentham, who defined it
primarily as the arising relations of large national states, the core of which is political relations. The term
diplomatic history is sometimes used, not altogether correctly, as a synonym for the history of international
relations. However, the former is particularly associated with an academic tradition focused on purely
descriptive work and limited by constrAints of the chancelleries'(чАнслеріс) views, while the latter attempts
to understand and to explain complexities of the evolution of international life through a wider angle.
International relations were initially isolated as an investigation object of the historical sciences study during
the first half of the nineteenth century. Modern history of international relations has been resumed since the
late 1930s and has promoted a methodological revolution with significant results for the present discussion
on international life. French historiography introduced the role of multiple causes and the dynamics of state
decision as the core of its social history of international relations. British historians invented the concept
of international society and promoted a comparative history of international relations with a cultural flavor.
Italians deepened the study of the influence of ideas and public opinion upon international relations. North-
American historians tied history and theory and stressed the new role of the United States in the world. 
The field of international relations emerged at the beginning of the 20th century largely in the West.
Whereas the study of international relations in the newly founded Soviet Union and later in communist
China was stultified by officially imposed Marxist ideology, in the West the field flourished as the result of
a number of factors: a growing demand to find less-dangerous and more-effective means of conducting
relations between peoples, societies, governments, and economies; and the popularization of political affairs,
including foreign affairs. The traditional view that foreign and military matters should remain the preserve
of rulers yielded to the belief that such matters constituted an important concern and responsibility of all
citizens. This increasing popularization of international relations reinforced the idea that general education
should include instruction in foreign affairs and that knowledge should be advanced in the interests of
greater public control and oversight of foreign and military policy.
This new perspective was articulated by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson in his program for relations
between the Great Powers following a settlement of World War I. The extreme devastation caused by the
war strengthened the conviction among political leaders that not enough was known about international
relations and that universities should promote research and teaching on issues related to international
cooperation and war and peace.
The theoretical study of international relations has begun after the First World War, when the
Department of International Relations was opened at the University of Wales. In fact, there are three main
theoretical schools - realism, liberalism, and constructivism, but there are quite a few other branches.
Realism or political realism has been the dominant discipline since its inception. Realism makes
several key conclusions: national states are unitary, conduct foreign policy, being players in an anarchic
system of international relations, based on the geographical principle. An anarchic international system is
able to regulate the interaction of countries. Any national states are primary players on the international
arena. Therefore, as the highest organizational form, states are in constant competition with each other.
 Liberalism argues that state preferences, not state capabilities, are the primary determinants of states'
behavior. Unlike realism, where the state is perceived as a unitary player, liberalism allows pluralism in the
actions of the state. Preferences will vary from country to country, depending on the culture, economic
system, or political regime. Liberalism also believes that interaction between states is not limited to the issue
of national security, but also occurs through commercial firms, organizations, and private individuals. As a
result, instead of an anarchic system of international relations, the concept of a more complex structure of
the system is introduced.
A key tenet of constructivism is the belief that international politics is shaped by ideas, collective
values, culture, and social identification. Constructivism proves that international reality is created based on
social values that give new meaning to the material world. This theory arose out of disputes over the
scientific method of international relations, and the role of theories in the formation of new international
forces.
The failure of realists and liberals in predicting the end of the Cold War dramatically increased the
authority of constructivists. Constructivism criticizes the traditional approach of liberalism and realism in
the study of international relations, emphasizing that international relations are a social construction. While
in international relations, realism deals mostly with security and material power, and liberalism is more
concerned with economic interdependence and the factors of internal politics of states, constructivism is
most focused on analyzing the role of ideas in the system of international relations. By "ideas"
constructivists mean goals, , fears, identities, and other perceived elements of reality that affect states and
non-state objects of international relations.
In practice, international relations constitute a separate branch of political science, and the courses
taught within it are largely interdisciplinary. For example, international relations draw on the fields of
politics, economics, international law, communication studies, history, demography, geography, and
psychology. The field of international relations covers issues such as globalization, diplomatic relations,
state sovereignty, international security, environmental sustainability, economic development, the global
financial system, terrorism, and human rights.
International relations are one of the leading modern disciplines, which plays significant role in both
international political and domestic life.