The International System
International Politics Through History to Modern Times
What is it?
Nations interacting with one
another on the global stage.
Each nation is considered to
be sovereign (free) but
some are more powerful
than others.
Evolution of the Modern International System
The modern international system is
only a few centuries old. 4 key
events/phases define its’ evolution.
1. The Peace of Westphalia (1648)
2. Shifting Balance of Power (1600 to
1800)
3. Rise of Nationalism (1800 to 1945)
4. New World Orders (1945 to Present)
The Peace of Westphalia (1648)
Treaty that ended the Thirty Years’ War
in Central Europe between Catholics
and Protestants.
It declared that each nation could do
as he or she wished within their borders.
Established states speaking for
themselves and being independent of
influences.
Shifting Balance of Power (1600 to 1800)
Some states in Europe
throughout this period became
extremely powerful and smaller
states would ban together to
balance out the power.
Example: Napoleon and France
vs. Great Britain, Austria, and
Russia
Rise of Nationalism (1800 to 1945)
Nationalism or the belief your
nation is superior emerged as
a popular idea in the 1800s.
It allowed new nations such as
Italy and Germany to emerge
and also created a sense of
competition like never before
between nations.
New World Orders (1945 to Present)
Following WWII only two great
powers remained, the United
States and the Soviet Union.
After the fall of the Soviet Union,
we are now in a new era with only
the U.S. as a superpower and
multiple emerging super powers.
The Modern Political System
Today, in addition to nations
interacting with one another,
interest groups, corporations,
institutions, and activists all play
a role in international politics.
The result is a constantly shifting
and evolving political stage.
Theories of International Relations
Some major theories have
developed to explain how
nations interact with one another.
1. Realism
2. Liberalism
3. Idealism
Realism
Believes that nation work only to
increase their own power
relative to that of other states. In
other words, realists believe that
essentially nations are simply
looking out for themselves and
that in order to survive, a nation
must be strong.
Realist Thinker: Machiavelli
Machiavelli was an Italian
Philosopher in the 1500s that
believed effective leaders and
nations use deceit and violence
as tools against other states. He
believed you had to be brutal at
times to succeed and deal with
conflicts decisively.
Liberalism
Emphasizes that connections
among nations make it difficult
for nations to make decisions
that do not effect other nations.
The belief is that there are
consequences to nations acting
alone and not with regard for
others.
Idealism
Believes that nations should
pursue moral goals and act
ethically in international
politics.
They oppose the use of
deception and violence in
politics.
International Agreements and Laws
In order to make the modern
international system les chaotic, most
nations utilize international agreements
and laws to provide stability.
These agreements and laws evolve over
time and in some cases require
international courts or organizations like
the UN to enforce them.
International Treaties
Treaties play an
important role in shaping
and redefining the
international system. In
many cases, they
reinforce laws and
protect national and
international interests.
Major International Treaties
Treaties
Date
Effect
Sykes-Picot
1916
Set the modern boundaries in the Middle East.
Treaty of Versailles
1919
Ended WWI. Unfair treatment of Germany set the stage for WWII
Munich Agreement
1938
Appeasement of Hitler in hopes he would not take over more.
United Nations Charter
1945
Created the UN
North Atlantic Treaty
1949
Created NATO in order to prevent the spread of communism
Warsaw Pact
1955
Communist response to NATO.
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
1968
Made it illegal for new nations to obtain nuclear weapons.
Camp David Accords
1978
Peace Treaty between Israel and Egypt.
Kyoto Protocol
2005
Regulates emissions to reduce global warming.
International Organizations
Some agreements and
treaties set up organizations
to enforce its’ rules and
regulations.
Two Types: International
Government Organizations
(IGO) and Nongovernmental
Organizations (NGO).
Important International Organizations
Name
Type/Date
Members
European Union
IGO/1992
25 European Nations.
International Olympic Committee
NGO/1894
115 Individuals, who represent the IOC in their home
countries.
United Nations
IGO/1946
191 nations.
World Bank
IGO/1945
Offers loan to more than 100 nations.
Salvation Army
NGO/1878
Runs program in more than 100 nations and has 3.5
Million Volunteers
Organization of Petroleum
Exporting Countries
IGO/1960
11 Nations.
Multinational Corporations
Businesses that
operate in more than
one country and add
another layer that
links nations together
in the current
international system.
International Conflict: War
Geneva Conventions: Establish
acceptable forms of war and
punishes war criminals.
Just War Theory: War is the final
political option, must be justified,
must be winnable, and must
attempt to prevent civilian
casualties
Types of War
1. Total War: Involves every part of society.
2. Limited War: Only involves the military.
3. Guerrilla War: Involves unprofessional
soldiers and unorthodox fighting styles.
4. Civil War: Fought within a single country
between its people.
5. Proxy War: Fought through other nations
between two nations.
Types of Terrorism
Terrorism by Governments
Terrorism by Groups
State Terrorism: A government
commit acts of terrorism against
its own citizens
Antistate Terrorism: Any terrorist
act not committed by a
government.
International Terrorism: A
government supplies and trains
terrorists to carry out attacks on
other nations.
Domestic Terrorism: A group with
no ties to another nation
commits terrorist acts within its
own country.
Define International System.
A set of rules by which states
relate to one another. Each state
is sovereign and can make
independent choices.
How do Realism and Liberalism differ?
Realism emphasizes nation’s desire
to increase their power when
compared to other nations and
Liberalism stresses the importance of
collaboration between nations and
international organizations.
True or False: Religious groups always
practice Terrorism.
False
True/False: Guerilla Warfare involves two
professional armies.
False
True/False: International politics today are
dominated today by two clear superpowers.
False
What is the difference between an NGO
and an IGO?
NGOs are free of government
control where as IGOs exist
because multiple nations support
them.
Are all international laws legally binding?
No, they are only as strong as the
willingness of countries to abide by and
enforce them.