Explain the scope and methods of the international relations.
The scope of international relations (IR) is broad and includes many subjects, such as economics, politics, and law. It also covers a variety of groups, including nations, governments, and international organizations.
Subfields of international relations –
Diplomacy: The study of negotiations between states
Foreign policy: The study of how states interact with each other
Conflict resolution: The study of how to resolve conflicts between states and non-state actors
Globalization: The study of how economic, technological, and cultural trends impact international relations
International law: The study of the rules that govern the behavior of states and non-state actors.
International Relations include and cover all aspects of topics which, form the point of view of common sense and are relevant for purpose of international studies. Its foundation lies in the desire of mutual adjustments of national interests and achieve in the widely divergent physical, geological, geographical and climatic situations and environments governing them. The field of the study of international relations is concerned with international society. Its scope includes the evolution and structure of international society, the actions on the international scene, the patterns of their behaviour and the driving forces being their actions and finally, the problems of international planning. A variety of agencies and media are used, ranging from complex peace keeping organisations, such as the United Nations, to ordinary and bilateral negotiations. All these institutions contribute to the scope of International Relations.
Here we will describe the scope and methods of the International Relations.
Expansion of Scope of International Relations after First World War
The scope of international relations has very much expended in modern times. Initially international relations were concerned only with the study of diplomacy history. It scope was confined to the study of contemporary foreign affairs with a view to draw certain lessons. Later on, emphasis was laid on the study of international law. Now international relations began to be studied within the framework of international law -with the establishment of the League of Nations after the First World War. Scholars further widened the field of international relations to include the study of international organizations and institutions.
Expansion of Scope of International Relations after Second World War
In the post World War II period, significant changes such as the emergence of the USA and USSR as two superpowers, the entry of a large number of non-European states into the society of nations, the danger of thermonuclear war, increasing interdependence of states, and rising expectations of the people in the underdeveloped world further widened the scope of international relations. Researchers are now placing greater emphasis on the scientific study of international relations. It led to development of new methodologies. It introduced new theories in the study of international relations. The scholars began to study the military policy of the country as well as the behaviour of political leaders. More importance is being given to the individual and other corporate sectors. Thus the present scope of international relations is quite extensive, it embraces the study of diplomatic history, international politics, international organisation and administration, international law, area studies as well as psychological ‘study of the motives of member states in their mutual relations. In recent years scholars have tried to study the forces underlying the practices of the states to build a comprehensive theory of international relationships. They have made serious efforts to utilise the social science technique and establish verifiable propositions.
Methods of International Relations
Different thinkers have devised various schools of thought in international relations, and each has formulated a distinct method. As an academic discipline, international relations is still searching for the most suitable tools with which to
handle its tasks.
In this field Naturalist writers started their inquiries from a priori positions and deduced their conclusions from a state of
nature which they pictured in terms of either “homo homini lupus” or the brotherhood of man. In our time, the spectacle repeated itself in the controversy between the so called realists and idealists in the of
international relations. A primary approach to international relations is what we require, in which the apparent antinomy resolves into a new
synthesis. No one has ever effectively internationalised power, nor is anyone doing so. This does not prove that they cannot internationalise it. Conversely, day-dreams on the future of international relations are no excuse for shirking a critical analysis of existing international society. Thus a realistic position is perfect compatible with constructive views on what can or ought to be.