What is International Politics? Explain the difference between International Relation and Politics. Discuss the scope of International politics.
INTRODUCTION
The term ‘politics’ connotes the people have wants and needs. To satisfy the wants people come into contact with one another. Naturally, the common needs and wants give birth to groups. Since all men may not have identical interest hence, conflict becomes necessary. Groups do certain activities and follow certain policies to fulfil their interests. The interactions of the groups to fulfil their interests to their maximum extent is politics.
International politics is the core study of Political science. It studies the relations between the nations. All nations work for their National interest and each state has their own sovereignty and has a different place as a sovereign player in the international arena. International politics is the study of relationships, interactions, and power dynamics between states, non-state actors, and international organizations in the global arena. International politics is a dynamic and ever-changing field that plays a crucial role in shaping the world and the relationships between states and other actors.
Definition
Many scholars have given definition of International Politics. Definitions of some of the scholars are as follows-
In the words of Mongenthau
“International politics is the struggle for, and use of, power among nations.” The term power denotes the quantity of influence which the nations exert on the minds and actions of the people of one another.
Sprout and Sprout also defined.
International Politics are those aspects of the interactions and relations of independent political communities in which some element of opposition, resistance and conflict of purpose or interest is present.
According to Thompson.
International Politics is the study of rivalry among nations and the conditions and institutions which ameliorate or exacerbate these relationship.
Padelford and Lincoln define it as
“The interactions of state polices within he changing patterns of power relationships.”
Palmer and Perkins
It is essentially concerned with the state system. With the assistance of those definition it can be deduced that International politics is a process in which nations try to protect their incompatible interest by means of power.
Difference between International Relations and International Politics
Many a writers have shown their inability in drawing a line of demarcation between international relations and international politics. Kenneth Thompson and Mongenthau consider international politics as an inalienable part of international relations. However, the superfluous resemblance does not make international politics the core of international relations as both are different for each other as shown below:
(a) International relations included all sorts of relations ie. political, economics, cultural, geographical, legal and non-official. As Harold and Margaret Sprout say that all human behaviour on the one side of a national boundary affecting the human behaviour on the other side of the country, is termed as International relations. It included only political aspects, action and reaction those are the subjects of international politics. Thus it can be said the international politics is the political aspect of international relations.
(b) The methodology of the study of international relation is descriptive, while that of international politics is purely analytical. In international relations the related factors are being studied chronologically, while in international politics the basis of study is what, when and how of the present with a relationship between the past and the future.
It is established beyond doubt that it derives its strength from relations with other. The former uses the latter as the basis and subject matter of study and hence both are one at the same timing.
It aims at the establishment of peace through the international organisation and international relations too are based on this very principle. Thus, concern for peace is the common denominator between international politics and international relations.
Scope
In 1954, the book UNESCO was published which was later edited by C.A.W. Manning. In this book international politics recognised as an independent discipline, but the dissenting should not be ignored. The dissenters regard international politics and international relations as merely a duplication of subject-matter.
Most of the scholars of IP ascribe the following scopes in the study of this discipline:
(I) State System
In the words of Palmer and Perkins, state system is the starting point to the study of IP. The state system has influenced the international field since last three centuries The individuals organise themselves in sovereign states and through them strive to fulfil their interests. The incompatible interest of these sovereign states, generate conflict. Thus it is the natural corollary of the conflict of sovereign states.
(II) National Interest
National interest are the goals of sovereign states which they pursue with the help of power. The foreign policy is invariably formulated on the basis of national interests. Thus the national interest can be viewed as the pivot around which it as a field of study is focused upon and through the processes, states adjust their national interests to those of other states.
(iii) National Power
It is a struggle for power among nations. Whatever the ultimate aims of IP be, power is always its immediate aim. National power is the factor which gives a nation a capacity to pursue its national interest and at the same time it makes the nation effective is international relations. Thus, the national power is the total effectiveness of a state in world politics. William Ebenstein defines: National power is more than the sum total of population, raw material and quantitative factors. E.H. Carr has included economic power, military potential and the power of mobilising public opinion in national power. Palmer and Perkins add the quality of diplomacy in the making of national power.
(iv) Foreign Policy
Sprout and Sprout regard foreign policy as the sub-category of IP whereas Felix Gross and Russel Fefield consider IP and foreign policy as synonymous terms. The sovereign states interact through their foreign policies and, thus, foreign policy in international politics is like a charter containing the national interests showing the areas of agreeability and incompatibility.
(v) Instruments
The states, in order to achieve their aims, use many instrument, as the means. Diplomacy, foreign policy, international trade, economic and military assistance are the instruments for achieving national interests. The states use these instrument according to the circumstance. Some of these instruments are expressly used in peace times, while some are the instruments generally used in times of war.
(vi) Nationalism, Colonialism and Imperialism
Nationalism is the most significant factor of modern state system. It has changed the classical nature of international politics and has been responsible for the the shifting of interest from Europe to Asia and Africa. The development of nationalism has affected the old form of imperialism and it is an important aspect of international politics. Dollar imperialism and economic imperialism are its new forms.
(vii) Control of International Relations
Beside power, International Law and International Organisation are the devices which control and check the behaviour of the actors of international relations. In the same manner, regional alliance and disarmament also regulate the conduct of sovereign states.
