For this reason, constructivism has become a popular and important theory in recent decades as non-state actors like international organizations such as Amnesty International, OXFAM, and Greenpeace gain political influence. This has been demonstrated by the countryвЂ™s foreign policy following the first and second Gulf War (the latter of which Germany refused to participate), as well as its reluctant participation in United Nations-led operations in Somalia and Yugoslavia.Д¬onstructivists also argue that states are not the most important actors in international relations, but that international institutions and other non-state actors are valuable in influencing behavior through lobbying and acts of persuasion. For example, since German aggression served as the primary catalyst for the Second World War, Germany deploys its armed forces outside of German borders only when its government is certain of the need to intervene in instances of genocide or conflict that threatens to spill over into other nations.

ConstructivismД¬onstructivism rests on the notion that rather than the outright pursuit of material interests, it is a nationвЂ™s belief systems-historical, cultural and social -that explain its foreign policy efforts and behavior. It can be argued that the liberalist tradition, perpetuated by the United States, has become the dominant system in international relations, with established values and international institutions in place to regulate this order.

As liberalism has become more rooted in international cooperation through the establishment of organizations like the United Nations, realism has started to wane as a viable political strategy. In todayвЂ™s globalized society, using economic tactics-such as bilateral trade agreements and international diplomacy-can be more effective in advancing political interests than threatening force. Therefore, liberal politicians generally prefer the use of economic and social power in achieving their national goals (for instance, obtaining the agreement of a neighboring country to help secure a border). Liberalists believe that the negative consequences of force-such as economic losses and civilian casualties-far exceed its potential benefits. Rather than relying on direct force, such as military action, liberalism places an emphasis on international cooperation as a means of furthering each nationвЂ™s respective interests. LiberalismДЄlso called вЂњliberal internationalism,вЂќ liberalism is based on the belief that the current global system is capable of engendering a peaceful world order. Chinese encroachment into the South China Sea and RussiaвЂ™s incursions into Ukraine also highlight the two countriesвЂ™ aggressive-and at times violent-realist political approach to international affairs. Similarly, China continues its diplomatic and economic association with North Korea in spite of the latterвЂ™s abysmal human rights record and aggressive nuclear testing. The relationship between Russia and Syria is one that has raised eyebrows in Europe and around the world despite the bloody civil war in Syria-and the international communityвЂ™s pleas for intervention-Russia has maintained strategic relations with the government of Bashar Al-Assad in order to protect Russian interests in the region. In modern times, realism is evident in the foreign policies of China and Russia. With homeland defense elevated to the highest priority, remaining morally righteous in the eyes of international organizations can take a backseat to enforcing foreign policy that will improve the nationвЂ™s global stature. The nature of realism implies that seeking a moral high ground is a goal that governments cannot always achieve and that deceit and violence can be highly effective tools for advancing national interests. The theory further states that a nationвЂ™s foremost interest should be self-preservation and that continually gaining power should always be a social, economic, and political imperative. Realism is a straightforward approach to international relations, stating that all nations are working to increase their own power, and those countries that manage to horde power most efficiently will thrive, as they can easily eclipse the achievements of less powerful nations.

By studying the following key international theories, professionals in the field can better discern the motivations and goals driving policy decisions worldwide. Varying from liberal, equality-centric strategies to straightforward realist concepts, international relations theories are often used by diplomats and international relations experts to dictate the direction that a government may take in regards to an international political issue or concern. International relations theories can help us understand the way the international systems work, as well as how nations engage with each other and view the world.

What is international relations pdf