MINISTRY OF EDUCATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF

AZERBAIJAN
BAKU STATE UNIVERSITY

FREELANCE WORK №1

Faculty: International relations and economics

Course: 2

Group: 114

Student: Elmar Namazov

Theacher: Sevinj Shahlarova

Subject: Specialization oriented foreign language

Theme: The importance of international relations

Baku-2023
 International relations is the study of the interaction of nation-states and non-
governmental organizations in fields such as politics, economics, and security. Professionals
work in academia, government, and non-profits to understand and develop cooperative
exchanges between nations that benefit commerce, security, quality of life, and the
environment. Our richly connected, complex world demands professionals skilled in
international relations, an exciting field of study that presents a globally oriented perspective
on issues that transcend national boundaries. The study and practice of international relations
is interdisciplinary in nature, blending the fields of economics, history, and political science
to examine topics such as human rights, global poverty, the environment, economics,
globalization, security, global ethics, and the political environment.

Exceptional economic integration, unprecedented threats to peace and security, and an

international focus on human rights and environmental protection all speak to the complexity
of international relations in the twenty-first century. This means the study of international
relations must focus on interdisciplinary research that addresses, anticipates, and ultimately
solves public policy problems. International relations (often referred to international affairs)
has a broad purpose in contemporary society, as it seeks to understand:

 The origins of war and the maintenance of peace

 The nature and exercise of power within the global system
 The changing character of state and non-state actors who participate in international
decision-making

For example, some institutions may study the psychological and social-psychological
reasoning behind the actions of foreign policymakers, while others may focus their
international studies on the institutional processes that contribute to the goals and behaviors
of states. Ultimately, the area of international relations studied depends on the goals or
objectives of the organization. Although international relations has taken on a new
significance because of our increasingly interconnected world, it is certainly not a new
concept. Historically, the establishment of treaties between nations served as the earliest
form of international relations.The study and practice of international relations in today’s
world is valuable for many reasons:

 International relations promotes successful trade policies between nations.

  International relations encourages travel related to business, tourism, and immigration,
providing people with opportunities to enhance their lives.
 International relations allows nations to cooperate with one another, pool resources,
and share information as a way to face global issues that go beyond any particular
country or region. Contemporary global issues include pandemics, terrorism, and the
environment.
 International relations advances human culture through cultural exchanges, diplomacy
and policy development.

International relations may be an offshoot of political science, but this field of study is
exceptionally in-depth in its own right. As our global society evolves and expands,
international relations will evolve and expand along with it as we continue to explore new
and exciting way to link our complex world.

For example, traditional dimensions of international relations related to international

peace and prosperity include topics such as international diplomacy, arms control, and
alliance politics. Contemporary studies in international relations, on other hand, include
topics such as international political economics, environmental politics, refugee and
migration issues, and human rights. Professionals studying international relations often
determine the level at which they will analyze a state’s behavior:

 System Level Analysis: System level analysis looks at the international system; more
specifically, how the international system affects the behavior of nation states, with
the key variable being that the international system includes the power of each state
rather than being independent of them.
 State Level Analysis: State level analysis examines how a state’s characteristics
determine its foreign policy behavior. This type of analysis often views states as
having cultural characteristics based on their religious or social traditions, and their
historical legacy, and includes an analysis of economic and geographic factors.
 Organizational Level Analysis: Organizational level analysis examines how
organizations within a state influence the state’s foreign policy behavior. In other
words, organizational level analysis views that organizations—not states—make the
decisions that create a state’s foreign policy.
  Individual Level Analysis: Individual level analysis views the leaders of states as
being the largest influencers of foreign policy.

The study of international relations involves theoretical approaches based on solid

evidence. Theories of international relations are essentially a set of ideas aimed at explaining
how the international system works. The two, major theories of international relations are
realism and liberalism:

Realism

Realism focuses on the notion that states work to increase their own power relative to
other states. The theory of realism states that the only certainty in the world is power;
therefore, a powerful state—via military power (the most important and reliable form of
power)—will always be able to outlast its weaker competitors. Self-preservation is a major
theme in realism, as states must always seek power to protect themselves. In realism, the
international system drives states to use military force. Although leaders may be moral, they
must not let morality guide their foreign policy. Furthermore, realism recognizes that
international organizations and law have no power and force, and that their existence relies
solely on being recognized and accepted by select states.

Liberalism (Idealism)

Liberalism recognizes that states share broad ties, thus making it difficult to define
singular independent national interests. The theory of liberalism in international relations
therefore involves the decreased use of military power. The theory of liberalism saw its first
strong post-WWII emergence in the 1970s as increasing globalization, communications
technology, and international trade made some scholars argue that realism was outdated.
Liberal approaches to the study of international relations, also referred to as theories of
complex interdependence, claim that the consequences of military power outweigh the
benefits and that international cooperation is in the interest of every state. It also claims that
exercising economic power over military power has proven more effective. Although the
liberal theory of international relations was dominant following World War I while President
Woodrow Wilson promoted the League of Nations and many treaties abolishing war, realism
came back into prominence in the Second World War and continued throughout the Cold
War.