Elements of International Relations

• Domestic policy and foreign policy must be co-

extensive and co-existing complementary to
each other.
• It would be a damaging for a country to have
different policies for its internal and external
affairs, because what a state does at home is
bound to be reflected in its dealing with other
countries.
• Not even a single State can adopt a foreign
policy which is detrimental to the Interests of
the world community.
• But there are certain factors which are
essentially responsible for determination of
the foreign policy of a country in relation to
other States and the International relations
are largely affected by these factors.
Factors Determining International Relations:
Main Factors:
i. Geographic Factor
ii. Economic Factor
iii. Demographic
iv. Strategic
Additional Factors:
v. The historical-psychological, Sociological Factor
vi. The organizational-admistrative factor
vii. The military factor
The Geographic Factor:
• The location of a State on this planet, its climate
and size are such factors which influence its
foreign policy in relation to other States.
• If the geographical position of a country is
sound, and its climate is healthy, if it is ricch in
food stuffs and raw materials, it must follow an
independent foreign policy.
• The geographical position and historical developments are
such determining factors of foreign policy of a country that
regardless of changes in the form of government, the
foreign policy of a country has a natural tendency to
return again and again to the same general and
fundamental alignment.
• For instance, if a state is strategically situated having
natural barriers like seas, mountains, terrains, deserts and
so on, it is not ordinarily vulnerable to foreign invasions.
Such strategically situated country follows independent
foreign policy in relation to other states.
• If a country lacks in all these geographical
factors, it has to has to look to other States
and has to follow the course of the
neighbouring States in her relation with them.
• It cannot follow an independent foreign policy,
of its own . Thus it is clear that a country which
has unfavorable geographical positions cannot
be able to keep itself isolated from the events
happening in neighbouring countries.
Economic Factors:
• The main elements of economic factors which
determine the position of a country in relation to
other states are;
i. Its self sufficiency and (ii) its capacity to provide
food, clothing and shelter to its population.
• Since nature has unevenly distributed its wealth all
over the world, no country can claim that it is wholly
economically self-suffient and thus a great power.
• The huge supplies of raw materials and natural resources are
essential for a country for becoming a big power, a large
population is also essential for bringing about greater industrial
and agricultural output as well as for raising a powerful army
and navy.
• The great development in China is an illustration on this point
which has become one of the Five Big Powers of the world and
has taken its seat in the 15 members-Security Council of the
United Nations.
• By population alone cannot make a country strong if it goes on
increasing day by day without a corresponding increase in
production.
• If a country does not control the increase in its
population corresponding to the increase in its
production it must look for some other
territories to accomodate its increased
expansionist policy. Japan invaded Manchuria
with this motive, China occupied territory for
similar ambition, Germany clashed with the
Allied Powers with the same motive.
Demographic Factor: (a) the size of population
and (b) ethnic circumstances.
• A nation becomes great and powerful if it has
both a growing large population and efficient
industrial production.
• The size of population and equally the huge and
efficient industrial production determine the
existence to which a nation can have an
independent foreign policy.
• Another demographic factor is the ethnic
circumstances of a nation.
• Those countries having a single race have no much
internal problems to solve.
• Such countries are quite free to pursue an
independent foreign policy but the countries which
have various races are bound to face numerous
internal problems.
• The split of Pakistan into Proper Pakistan and
Bangladesh is due to the fact.
Strategic factors:
• The military strategy of a country is another important factor to
determine the foreign policy because it is closely connected with
the national security of the country.
• If a country has effective protective natural barriers, it seldom
worries about its security; for instance, British Isles and Japan.
• These countries are surrounded by oceans on all sides and they
enjoy the position of islands.
• Besides seas and ocean, mountains, rivers, snow, deserts, and
forests play significant roles in safeguarding the territories of
countries.
• Distance is another factor influencing the foreign affairs of country.
Additional Factors
i. The historical-psychological, sociological factors:
If a country has its bold history, and people are
ready to sacrifice their blood for their motherland,
its moral shall always be high.The future of a
country cannot be assessed well if we do not study
its today's affairs in light of the yesterday's history.
No country can pursue an independent foreign
policy if the morale of its nationals not high and
their national character is not strong enough.
ii. The Organizational and administrative factor:
This factor constitutes the form of the
government within a political society and the
attitude of the people towards it. Foreign
issues can be decided by the sound
governmental organization, effecient public
administration of a country.
iii. The Military Factor: This factor is considered
from various aspects.ie. Of the armed forces,
quality and morale of army, quantity and
variety of weapons equipments which
determine the foreign relations.
 Subject Matter or Actor of International
Relations:
• The participants in international relations, often called
actors, have a great influence on the relationships
between nations and on world affairs.
• The major participants include;
• The nations themselves, the leaders of those nations,
• Sub-state actors (groups or organization within a
nation),
• Transnational actors (organizations operating in more
than one country, and
• International organizations.