BoK World Affairs

IR Approaches – Critical Theory Introduction Critical Theory is an approach to International Relations that questions existing political, economic, and social structures and examines how power, inequality, ideology, and historical conditions shape international affairs. Rather than asking only how the existing international system operates, Critical Theory asks how that system came into existence, whose interests…

English School Introduction The English School is a major approach to International Relations that combines elements of realism, liberalism, international law, history, and political philosophy. Its central concern is the concept of international society. While realism emphasizes power and conflict and liberalism emphasizes cooperation and institutions, the English School asks how states can form a…

Constructivism Introduction Constructivism is one of the major theoretical approaches in International Relations. It emphasizes that international politics is shaped not only by material factors such as military power, economic resources, and geography, but also by ideas, identities, norms, values, beliefs, and shared understandings. Constructivists argue that states do not automatically behave in particular ways…

Behavioural Approach 1. Introduction The Behavioural Approach transformed the study of International Relations by emphasizing systematic observation, empirical evidence and the study of actual political behaviour. It emerged partly as a reaction against approaches that relied heavily on historical description, philosophical reasoning or normative assumptions. Behavioural scholars sought to make the study of international politics…

Systems Approach 1. Introduction The Systems Approach studies International Relations as an interconnected system in which states and other actors interact with one another and produce patterns of international behaviour. Instead of examining individual events in isolation, the systems approach asks how the broader structure of relationships influences the behaviour of individual actors and how…

Marxism and International Relations 1. Introduction Marxism provides a critical approach to International Relations that emphasizes capitalism, class relations, economic structures and material inequality. Unlike theories that treat states as the primary independent actors, Marxist approaches examine how international politics is connected to the organization of the global economy. Marxist analysis asks questions such as:…

Dependency Theory 1. Introduction Dependency Theory is a critical approach to international political economy and development that explains persistent inequality between countries through unequal economic relationships between dominant and dependent economies. It emerged particularly from Latin American intellectual debates during the mid-20th century. Dependency theorists challenged the assumption that all countries would necessarily follow the…

World-Systems Theory 1. Introduction World-Systems Theory is a macro-level approach to international political economy and global historical development associated primarily with Immanuel Wallerstein. It examines the modern world as a single historical system rather than treating individual countries as isolated units. The theory argues that the global capitalist economy is organized into interconnected structural zones,…

Neoliberal Institutionalism 1. Introduction Neoliberal institutionalism is a major approach within International Relations that explains how states can cooperate despite operating in an anarchic international system. The theory accepts some important assumptions of realism, particularly the absence of a central world government and the continuing importance of states. However, it argues that international institutions can…

Liberalism 1. Introduction Liberalism is one of the major theoretical traditions in International Relations. It emphasizes the possibilities of cooperation, institutions, economic interdependence, democracy and international law. Unlike theories that view international politics primarily through competition for power, liberal approaches argue that states can develop durable patterns of cooperation even in an anarchic international system….

Classical Realism 1. Introduction Classical realism is one of the most influential theories of International Relations. It explains international politics primarily through power, national interest, human nature and the struggle for survival. Classical realists argue that states operate in an international environment in which there is no central authority capable of reliably protecting them. Consequently,…

Neorealism 1. Introduction Neorealism, also called structural realism, is a major theory of International Relations developed primarily by Kenneth Waltz. Neorealism retains the realist emphasis on power, security and state survival but explains international behaviour differently from classical realism. Instead of focusing primarily on human nature, neorealism emphasizes the structure of the international system, especially…

Idealism 1. Introduction Idealism is one of the earliest major theoretical approaches in International Relations. It emphasizes the possibility of cooperation, peace, international law, institutions and moral principles in international politics. Idealist thinkers argue that international conflict is not an unavoidable feature of human existence. Through appropriate institutions, democratic governance, international law, diplomacy and cooperation,…

Human Security 1. Introduction Human security represents a broader understanding of security in which the individual and communities, rather than only the state, become central objects of protection. The concept emerged prominently after the Cold War as scholars and international organizations increasingly argued that security cannot be understood solely through military threats and territorial defence….

Strategic Culture 1. Introduction Strategic culture refers to the historically developed beliefs, assumptions, traditions and patterns of thinking that influence how a state understands security, war, military power and the use of force. States facing similar international conditions may behave differently because their strategic decisions are shaped not only by material capabilities but also by…

Great Powers and Superpowers 1. Introduction Great powers and superpowers occupy central positions in the international system because their economic, military, technological and diplomatic capabilities allow them to influence international affairs beyond their immediate regions. The concepts are related but not identical. A great power possesses capabilities that allow it to exercise substantial influence over…

Power Transition and Global Order 1. Introduction Power Transition Theory examines how changes in the relative power of major states can affect international order and the possibility of conflict. International systems are not static. States rise and decline, economic capabilities shift, technologies change and new powers emerge. When a rising state approaches the capabilities of…

Traditional Security 1. Introduction Traditional security refers to the conventional understanding of security in which the state is the primary object of protection and military threats are regarded as the principal sources of insecurity. For much of modern international relations, security was understood primarily in terms of territorial integrity, political independence, military capability, and survival…

Deterrence 1. Introduction Deterrence is a strategy designed to prevent an actor from taking an unwanted action by convincing it that the expected costs will outweigh the expected benefits. It is one of the central concepts of strategic studies and international security. Deterrence does not primarily seek to defeat an opponent after aggression occurs. Its…

Strategic Stability 1. Introduction Strategic stability refers broadly to a condition in which states have limited incentives to initiate major conflict or to launch destabilizing military actions. The concept has been particularly important in nuclear strategy, arms control and relations among major military powers. Strategic stability does not necessarily mean the absence of rivalry. States…