International System

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The study of how states interact with each other in the international system.

Sovereignty: The concept of authority over a defined territory, and the ability to govern that territory with autonomy.
Power: The ability to influence the behavior of others, whether it be a state or an individual. Power can be hard or soft, in the form of threats or incentives.
Diplomacy: The art of conducting negotiations and relationships between states through dialogue, negotiation and compromise.
Globalization: The process of increasing interconnectedness between states, cultures, and economies through the rapid spread of technology, trade and culture.
International Law: The set of legal principles and norms that regulate the behavior of states and other international actors, including rules for war, trade, human rights and the environment.
International Organizations: The institutions and bodies that manage and facilitate global cooperation and coordination, including the United Nations, World Trade Organization, and International Monetary Fund.
Conflict and War: The dynamics of conflict between states, including the causes and consequences of war, and the strategies and tactics employed by states in conflict.
Political Economy: The study of the relationship between politics and economics, including the ways in which economic systems impact political decisions, and the ways in which political systems impact economic outcomes.
International Development: The study of how states and organizations can promote economic growth, improve living standards, and reduce poverty in developing countries.
Ethics in International Relations: The discussion of ethical considerations about the behavior of states and other international actors, including human rights, democracy, and the ethics of war.
Balance of Power System: This is a system characterized by a distribution of power among countries that ensures that no single nation dominates the others. It prevents the rise of any dominant country that could threaten others' sovereignty.
Multipolarity System: This system is characterized by multiple centers of powers that lead to the existence of a complex system of alliances and counter-alliances. Power is distributed among several great powers or groupings of states, making it harder for any single state to dominate.
Unipolarity System: This system is dominated by a single superpower that holds sway over most other nations of the world. It is characterized by a strong hegemonic power structure that influences the political, economic, and military affairs of other nations.
Hegemonic Stability System: This system is characterized by a dominant power that ensures the stability of the international system by imposing order and policing against any challenges to its leadership position.
Multilateralism System: This system is characterized by cooperation between multiple actors, represented by states, international organizations, and other non-state actors. It promotes the idea of collective action and shared decision-making among diverse entities.
Non-Proliferation System: This system focuses on preventing the spread of nuclear weapons by discouraging the development, acquisition, and transfer of these weapons to rogue states or terrorist organizations.
Constructivist System: This system attempts to understand international politics as a product of socially constructed norms, values, and ideas, rather than as the product of power politics. It emphasizes diplomacy, negotiation, and cooperation as the means to resolve conflict.
"International Relations (IR) are the interactions among sovereign states."
"It concerns all activities among states—such as war, diplomacy, trade, and foreign policy—as well as relations with and among other international actors."
"Other international actors, such as intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs), international legal bodies, and multinational corporations (MNCs)."
"There are several schools of thought within IR, of which the most prominent are realism, liberalism, and constructivism."
"International relations is widely classified as a major subdiscipline of political science."
"It also often draws heavily from other fields, including anthropology, economics, geography, law, philosophy, sociology, and history."
"International relations did not become a discrete field until 1919."
"...first offered as an undergraduate major by Aberystwyth University in the United Kingdom."
"...in response to the geostrategic concerns of the Cold War."
"The collapse of the Soviet Union and subsequent rise of globalization in the late 20th century."
"The scientific study of those interactions is called international studies, international politics, or international affairs."
"The collapse of the Soviet Union and subsequent rise of globalization."
"Itergovernmental organizations (IGOs), international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs), international legal bodies, and multinational corporations (MNCs)."
"...such as war, diplomacy, trade, and foreign policy."
"...particularly in North America and Western Europe."
"International relations is widely classified as a major subdiscipline of political science."
"...geostrategic concerns of the Cold War."
"It also often draws heavily from other fields, including anthropology, economics, geography, law, philosophy, sociology, and history."
"The collapse of the Soviet Union and subsequent rise of globalization."
"...war, diplomacy, trade, and foreign policy."