Q1.

5 Theories of International Relations (25m)

1. Realism
- Realism is a theory that claims to explain the reality of International
Politics.
- In Realism, there are states and states are the primary and unitary
actor.
- Realism suggests that all the states need to put their own interest first
and prepare for the worst to keep themselves ahead in the
competition among the states.
- The primary goal of realism is to protect their economy, security,
survival and individual interest.
- Based on my understanding, the more power, stable economy and
high survival rate a state has, they are more ahead in the competition
and able to achieve their interest first.
- For example, Malaysia has diplomatic relations with most of the
countries around the world. However, if one of the countries decided
to push the rules to Malaysia and they agree on implying the rules in
all the states in Malaysia. However, a state can refuse to not
implement the rules in their state as the International system has no
power to force a state to adhere to the rules. This shows that the state
has put their interest first and looks out for their state.

2. Liberalism
- Liberalism is a theory that contradicts Realism.
- As we know, Realism is a theory that is all about power, self-interest,
security.
- However, Liberalism is all about equality, freedom and law of justice.
- Liberalism theory emphasises that all the states should be
interdependent and have cooperation among each other.
- There are three types of Liberalism which are Liberal Institutionalism,
Liberal Commercialism & Liberal Internationalism.
- Liberal Institutionalism is a theory in International Relations that
ensures cooperation between all the states to be feasible and
sustainable and with such cooperation, can reduce conflict and
competition among states. For example, all the states should be
dependent and considerate when they are making decisions and be
equal.
- Liberal Commercialism is about economic peace and how
interdependence and cooperation could maintain peace in the market
trade. For example, having a war or competition among the states
could ruin the economic stability and it is not profitable for anyone
hence having cooperation and economic peace could maintain the
peace in the economical markets.
- Liberal Internationalism is a theory that emphasises spreading liberal
democracy around the world to end all the conflicts. For example, the
 modern liberal is we have same-sex marriage, women rights, votings
for employee rights etc hence all this are liberal democracy that we
are able to voice out freely our rights without any conflicts through
liberalism.

3. Constructivism
- Constructivism is a theory that has its own identity.
- Constructivism focuses mainly on these three factors which are
culture, social structure and institutional framework which are based
on a knowledge of a person.
- Constructivism argues that social structure and institutional framework
is important as it represents the society and upholds what is being
invented.
- For example, the US has invented new technologies such as AI and
Virtual Reality and they believe these technologies could bring a great
upgrade in all the countries in terms of technology. Therefore, they
share it to all the countries to try and apply it. However, China believes
in their social structure and culture and they refuse to apply the
invention in their country because they want to invent by their own
people and in their own way.

4. Feminism
- Feminism is a theory in International Relations that emphasises
gender stereotypes in politics and government.
- Feminism looks through IR in the prism of gender relation as there are
minority roles for women in politics and government.
- Men have majority roles in politics and government and perhaps in
most professions.
- Feminism emphasises that having more women in politics and
government could change the way the culture works and patterns as
women’s nature is more to maintain peace and build cooperation
between one another.
- There are three types of feminism which are Liberal Feminism, Critical
Feminism and Cultural/Essentialism Feminism
- Liberal Feminism is all about women being able to do what men do
and have the same rights, opportunities in everything. To be equal and
free as them.
- For example, women often have no major roles in any profession as
the spotlight is given to men as they are seen as the superiors. And
women have no equal rights to do things men do.
- Critical Feminism is a theory that believes that Capitalism is the main
source of women's oppression and seeks to change the structure for
the society and the culture of it. For example, a male artist or writer
assumes all his readers and audience would be male and addresses
them as male and excludes the female audiences.
 - Cultural/Essentialism Feminism stresses the difference of how
women’s culture could change and bring difference through our
approach which is bringing peace and ending conflicts.

5. Neo - Marxism
- Neo - Marxist sees International Relations through the perspective of
Karl Marx.
- According to Marx, the way in which we organise production affects
how we organise social and political relations as well.
- Neo - Marxism theory believes that capitalism is the main reason in
International Relations to make states compete and attempt to
dominate each other.
- The aim of industrialised nations to create both sources of raw
resources and consumers for completed goods essentially defines
international relations.
- Neo-Marxists contend that capitalism, in its unrelenting pursuit of
increasing profits, causes workers to be degraded and impoverished.

Q2. Soft power vs Hard power. Comparison and Contra using the Malaysia Madani
Concept. (25m)

- Power is seen as a set of attributes people use to influence the action

of others.
- Soft power is defined as the ability to attract and co-opt instead of
coercing shaping through appeal and attractions.
- Hard power is when the country uses military forces and economic as
influence in the behaviour or interest of other political bodies
- Food: Malaysia uses food as a soft power tool and has all varieties of
food, cuisine and culture that we accepted and has been operating in
our country such as Thai, Arab, Japanese, Korean, Italian, French
and many more. Therefore, this shows that Malaysia accepts all
kinds of culture. Besides that, Malaysia also promotes these foods
through tourism and build-up the country's relations with foreigners
who visit our country. As a Muslim country , it is open to all
non-muslim countries despite the food needing to be halal and they
have not stopped welcoming non-halal fusions in Malaysia. However,
in comparison to India that uses hard power, does not have that
many Malaysian dishes or cuisine to be specific which I believe is to
uphold their food culture and be remained and chosen by the people.
- Culture: Malaysia uses culture as a soft power tool to upbring all the
cultures and welcomes all races to feel as one with others in
Malaysia.And the freedom to religion are enshrined in Malaysia. In
terms of race, Malaysia is blessed with lots of races such as Malay,
Chinese, Indian, Sikh, Indonesian, Sabahan, Sarawakian and many
more. We celebrate all of the special days of these races in Malaysia
 as one. For example, we wear cheongsam and attend open houses,
we have Hari Kebangsaan in schools to nurture the culture. We are
able to coexist with all the races. However, in comparison to India
who uses hard power in culture there is not much involvement or
recognition of other countries' culture besides India is being initiated.
India has not that much freedom in religion and does not support
people to choose something out of the registered races or religions in
India. For example, In India there are often problems when a different
religion or races get married or upbringing the culture could not be
resolved in peace and often results in violence.
- Language: In Malaysia we uses language as soft power tool as well
where we accept English, Mandarin, Bahasa Melayu, Tamil, Punjabi
etc languages that can be spoken here by our nations as we
standardised it in our educational system especially Bahasa Melayu
and English for all the students however those who are interested in
learning Tamil, Mandarin, Punjabi even though they are from different
racial backgrounds are welcomed to. Overall, Malaysians are able to
converse in Bahasa Melayu and English. However, in Japan most of
them are unable to speak English besides their own native language
which is Japanese. This makes most of the Internationals hard to
communicate with and understand their culture hence needs a
translator often to have a conversation with the people there.

Q4. Difference between Domestic PR and International PR (25m)

- Domestic PR is within the country and the states in the country.

- Therefore, we are well aware and fond of the cultures, work
patterns, rules, time and space, languages of the country.
- We are able to converse in the same languages and culture and
the norms of the country within each other and it makes the work
process easier and quicker compare to International PR
- For example, practising PR in Malaysia or in any other states of
Malaysia would be easy and well-known for PR practitioners as
we as the citizens of Malaysia are fond of the rules, norms and
diverse with the culture of all the states. I could practise PR in
Penang even if I am from Johor and there would not be any sort of
barriers in terms of languages, time and space or the work culture
as the similarities are quite near. As for language we have a
primary language which is Bahasa Melayu and English. As for
time and space, there is no time difference in the other states and
it's all the same. As for work culture, we tend to work basic
monday to friday and the only difference is Johor people start work
on Sunday and end it on Thursday meanwhile the other states are
the same as Monday to Friday.
- However, International PR is not the same as there are differences
for each of the countries in terms of languages, work culture, time
and space, communication system etc.
- For example, International PR the differences are the languages
could not be English and we only would know english or their
primary language is their native language. The time difference
could be 7 hours earlier or late compared to Malaysia and we
have to work at night to communicate with them if it's virtual. Their
work culture could be like where we need to have certain
certificates or sit for exams to practise PR. This could affect the
promotional materials, workloads, and miscommunication.
- For example, having a media campaign in Japan could be hard as
their primary language is Japanese. And their slang and accents
are thick and quite hard to understand. The work culture has so
many steps in Japan such as morning assembly, office cleaning,
entertainment, pay off day is different compared to Malaysia.
Therefore, these are the difficulties Domestic PR vs International
PR could face.