Global Relations
Unit I:
Introduction to International Relations
Unit I: Introduction to International Relations
Essential Questions
• What is state sovereignty and
how does it impact relations
between states?
• What are the three major ways
that power can be distributed
among the world’s states?
• What are the major types of
governments existing in the
world today?
International Relations is the
study of what?
How countries _ ? _
to / with each other.
relate
interact
Guess the four key “C” words
that fit in the blank.
How countries _ ? _ to/with
each other.
cooperate
communicate
compete
conflict
Definitions of International Relations
“The study of how countries
relate to one another, how
they work together, and how
they conflict.”
“The study of how states and
non-state actors interact with
and relate to each other.”
There are 195 sovereign states in the world
today.
What’s another word
for state?
The terms state and
country mean the
same thing and can be
used interchangeably.
What is a State / Country?
A self-governing political
entity having:
 Territory with internationally
recognized borders.
 A permanent population.
 A government.
 Sovereignty over its people
and territory.
 External recognition from
other states.
The world’s newest state
Name the country…
• Largest?
Russia
• Smallest?
Vatican City
• Most populated?
China
• Newest?
South Sudan
• Richest?
U.S.
• Poorest?
Burundi
• Most visited?
France
• Most obese people?
U.S.
• Highest quality of life?
Norway
• Cleanest?
Finland
• Most Miss Universe & Miss
World winners?
Venezuela
• Most billionaires?
U.S.
What is State Sovereignty?
• The right of a state to determine
and control what happens within
its borders.
• Means no other state has power
or control over its territory.
• Means governments are free to do
what they want within their own
state. Principle is often used by
governments to keep others from
interfering in their internal affairs.
What’s a nation?
• A group of people with a
distinct identity.
• What do members of a nation share in common?
race
ethnicity
history
culture
language
religion
What’s a nation-state?
 A nation that has a state or
country of their own.
 Examples *
France
Germany
Egypt
Japan
Ireland
Iceland
Hungary
Lebanon
Mongolia
Korea(s)
Portugal
Poland
* Countries where more than 95% of the
population is from same ethnic group.
Some nations are without states
 Example: The Kurds are
the world’s largest ethnic
group in world without
their own state.
What’s the difference between
interstate and intrastate?
• Interstate
(or International)
“Between states”
• Intrastate
“Within a state”
The Concept of Power
Power in International Relations
• What is power?
Power refers to a state’s ability to
influence the behavior of other
states.
• Why is power important?
Powerful states are more likely to
reach their foreign policy goals
than less powerful states.
The Distribution of Power
in the World
Balance of Power
• A concept used in analyzing
the distribution of power in
the world.
• When there is a balance of
power, states enjoy relatively
equal power and no one state
dominates the others.
The Balance of Power Theory of Politics
The idea that states
will adopt policies or
form alliances meant
to keep any one state
or group of states
from becoming too
powerful.
The Distribution of Power in the World
A Unipolar System:
• An international system
dominated by one
powerful state.
• Describes the world over the
last twenty years during which
the U.S. has been the world’s
only superpower.
A Bipolar System:
• An international system
dominated by two major
powers.
• Most recently when?
• Describes the Cold War
system when there were
two superpowers – the
U.S. and the USSR.
A Multipolar System:
• An international system
with multiple centers of
power.
• A rough balance of power
exists between four or
more states.
• No state is dominant.
Key Idea
Relative Power Changes Over Time
The Multipolar World of Tomorrow?
World Governments
What is Government?
• The body of people that
exercises power through
the making and enforcement of public policy and
laws within a state.
• There are different types
(or forms) of government
based on who possesses
that power.
Types of Government
Authoritarian
 Describes any government that
requires obedience to the
authority of one person or a
small group of people.
 The people have little or no
influence over decisions made
by the government.
 Autocracies and dictatorships
are authoritarian.
Types of Government
Autocracy (Autocratic government)
 Power is concentrated in
the hands of one person.
Types of Government
Dictatorship
 A government in which
absolute power is held by
one person (a dictator),
group, or political party.
Types of Government
Democracy
• The people govern
themselves directly
or through elected
representatives.
• Representative
democracies called
republics.
The World’s Democracies, 2012
Types of Government
Monarchy
• Power is held by a king or a
queen.
• Power is inherited through
family blood lines.
• Monarchs may hold absolute
power or limited power (a
constitutional monarchy).
Types of Government
Theocracy
• Power is in the hands of
religious leaders.