BoK World Affairs

Alliances and Coalitions Alliances and coalitions are arrangements through which states cooperate to pursue shared interests. They are important instruments of international security, diplomacy and strategic policy. Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, an alliance generally refers to a more formal and durable security relationship, while a coalition is often more flexible and may…

Hegemony Hegemony refers to a situation in which one state or political actor possesses predominant influence within an international or regional system. Hegemonic influence may arise from military, economic, technological, diplomatic, institutional or cultural capabilities. Hegemony is related to power and dominance, but it does not necessarily mean direct control over other states. A hegemonic…

Polarity: Unipolarity, Bipolarity and Multipolarity Polarity refers to the distribution of power among the major actors in the international system. It is used to describe how many significant centres of power exist and how power is distributed among them. The three principal forms of polarity discussed in International Relations are unipolarity, bipolarity and multipolarity. Understanding…

Balance of Power Balance of power is one of the oldest and most influential concepts in International Relations. It refers broadly to a situation or strategy in which the distribution of power prevents one state from becoming overwhelmingly dominant. The concept can describe a condition of relative equilibrium, a foreign-policy strategy, a process through which…

Elements of National Power National power refers to the overall capacity of a state to protect its interests, influence other actors and achieve its objectives in international affairs. It is not determined by military strength alone. National power is a combination of material and non-material capabilities, including geography, population, economy, military capability, political institutions, diplomacy,…

Power in International Relations Power is one of the central concepts of International Relations. It refers broadly to the ability of an actor to influence the behaviour, decisions or outcomes of other actors. Power affects relations among states, the structure of the international system, foreign policy, alliances, security and international institutions. Power is not limited…

National Interest National interest refers to the goals, objectives and priorities that a state considers important for its security, prosperity, sovereignty and overall well-being. It is one of the central concepts in International Relations and an important basis for understanding foreign policy. Governments use the concept of national interest to identify priorities and justify external…

Sovereignty Sovereignty is one of the foundational concepts of International Relations and modern political organization. It refers broadly to the supreme political and legal authority of a state within its territory and its independence in conducting external relations. The concept of sovereignty is closely associated with the modern state system. It helps explain why states…

International Society International society refers to a community of states that recognize certain common rules, norms, institutions and practices governing their relations. The concept goes beyond the idea that states simply interact with one another. It suggests that states can develop shared expectations about appropriate behaviour and create institutions and rules to organize their relationships….

The International System The international system is the overall structure within which states and other international actors interact. It consists of states, institutions, relationships, rules, patterns of power and processes that shape behaviour across the world. Unlike a domestic political system, the international system does not have a single universally recognized central government with supreme…

International Relations and International Politics International Relations and International Politics are closely related concepts and are often used interchangeably. However, they are not exactly identical. International Politics primarily refers to political interactions among states and other political actors at the international level. International Relations has a broader scope and includes political interactions as well as…

The Nation-State The nation-state is one of the most important concepts in International Relations and modern political history. It combines the idea of a political state with the idea of a nation. A state is a political and legal entity possessing territory, population, government and sovereignty. A nation is a community of people who share…

Meaning, Nature and Scope of International Relations International Relations (IR) is the systematic study of interactions, relationships, conflicts and cooperation among states and other actors across international boundaries. It examines how countries pursue their interests, exercise power, manage conflicts, cooperate through institutions, conduct diplomacy and respond to global challenges. International Relations is one of the…