IR Theory, Creating Order in a World of Disorder?

(This essay was written in 2021)

What is International Relations Theory? What is its purpose in the study of global politics?

Firstly, theory at its simplest is reflective thought (Brown & Ainley, 2009). Simply, theories reduce the complexity of things and act as sort of tools in the understanding, explaining and predicting of human or state behaviour for example. Therefore, when studying International Relations, the theory’s ultimate purpose is to deconstruct and simplify why states behave in certain ways and how global politics works.

International relations theory basically is the study of international relations from a theoretical perspective. It attempts to both explain state behaviour in the past as well as predict future state behaviour. Its aim could be said is to create a framework from which issues in global politics can be solved usually via a system through the study of past events. Every problem would therefore have a solution. Even though not every political theory is relevant to every situation, it still provides a way for researchers and policy makers to understand the world around them and the political implications a policy could have. Hence, the purpose of International Relations Theory is to create order out of disorder through the understanding of behaviours and how these behaviours affect global politics.

What is international relations theory?

Ultimately, theory’s construct what we see and how we perceive things, theory gives the theorist different coloured lenses in which the study of global politics can be explored (Smith, 2014). International relations was developed as its own academic discipline following the First World War in 1919 at the University of Aberystwyth. It is an evolving discipline as it is directly affected by global politics. Hence the theory of international relations has evolved over time. For example, the first few decades of International relations theory heavily focused on warfare and security as the theory evolved during the interwar periods between 1919 -1939. International relations has three major theoretical branches which are realism, liberalism and constructivism (Cristol, 2019). However, as the global world changes, new theories have arisen in response to these changes. Additionally, theories can be split into following a “positivist” or “rationalist” approach to the study of international relations. New theories have also emerged such as critical IR theory and feminist IR theory who are considered as part of the constructivist branch albeit are more modern than the three main traditional theories (Cristol, 2019).

International relations theory has been an independent discipline especially after the Second World war and has only continued in becoming its own independent field of study (Algosaibi, 1965). International relations directly reflects and is affected by global changes, such changes can include environmental, cultural, political, religious or economic factors. Therefore, the theory continues to change as new theories are created in response to the global world changing.

Primarily, traditional international relations theories can generally be separated into different categories due to their focus on humans, states, or on the system of a state as the primary source of conflict. The aim of international relations is to prevent conflict especially mass conflict on a global scale.

What is its relevance in the study of international relations?

International relations theory evolves over time as it is directly affected by international relations. Especially since the second world war as Algosaibi points out how it has changed unambiguously and seen a “burst of activity” (Algosaibi, 1965). Certain scholars from the 1960s point out how international relations theory has become its own discipline and is different to the study of domestic politics and historical based studying of global politics, therefore becoming its own discipline (Kaplan, 1961).

Theorists use international relations theory to directly explain, understand and predict international relations. Certainly with the focus on internal factors within a state as well as the external factors outside a state and the influence such factors have upon international relations. Theorists study international relations in order to create a framework upon which international relations can be analysed, predicted, explained and understood. Therefore, new theories can emerge and other theories change with time. The theory evolves as the global world changes, adapting to new changes in the world. This forces scholars to seek to understand human behaviour and how it changes on a global scale. It also challenges these scholars to pursue a manner of explaining human behaviour and why states pursue certain policy compared to others.

Systems are developed by scholars in order to understand international relations. Goodman points out how not every system can be applicable to every problem or situation (Goodman, 1965). That is true as systems do exclude certain factors in order to function. Thus, different systems are developed in order to create solutions to global problems or situations. In addition, not every theory works in practice depending on how it is employed when studying international relations. However according to Smith, theories are a fundamental part of the social world and constitute the social world we live in (Smith, 2014). Simply, theories affect decisions and behaviour as depending on how one looks at a certain theory such as a Marxist or a Cosmopolitan theory it can either benefit or cause issues within a state or between states. Traditional theories such as liberalism and realism have been modernized as the global world changes into neo-liberalism and neo-realism. Hence IR theory is relevant as it is an evolving discipline and thus changes as time moves on and the world changes.

Scholars are able to ask certain questions through the use of theory. Questions such as why is the world the way it is or what causes certain human or state behaviours? Ultimately, theory can usually help explain certain behaviours and predict how a certain state may act when pressed with an internal factor such as the cultural aspect of a state or an external factor such as international legal or social norms. The ability to be able to study and understand global politics through the use of theory helps to create order out of disorder with the ultimate aim being to prevent mass global conflict. Therefore, international relations theory is like a tool box full of tools which in this case are different theories that can be employed to understand disorder and in turn create order through the understanding, explaining and predicting made through the use of theory.

What is the ultimate purpose of IR Theory?

In the research community, international relations theory helps to advise policymakers on how to conduct policy especially foreign policy. It does this in which through the theoretical perspective it is able to understand global politics and thus explain state behaviour. Hence, international relations theory can then predict the impact policy could have which in turn advises policymakers on what foreign policy to pursue when deciding on a policy (Nicholson, 2000). For instance, policy is affected by a variety of influences such as the psychological makeup of rulers, the cultural, political or religious aspects of a state’s population or the economic forces within or outside a state. Other recent factors such as climate change, international institutions, international law or global communication have also affected policy and therefore have also influenced global politics. Thus, policy makers use theory in order to best navigate and respond to factors that will influence international relations.

The benefit of being able to examine international relations through the use of theory reduces the complexity of the discipline. This in turn allows for a more systematic treatment and inquiry of international relations, this then contributes in being able to understand, explain and predict global politics. Henceforth, the purpose of IR theory is to create order out of disorder through the use of theories in order to prevent mass global conflict and in turn maintain stability and world peace.

Conclusion.

To conclude, international relations theory is an ever evolving discipline as it changes with the way global politics changes. From its inception as its own independent field of study in 1919 to how it has changed following large historical events such as the Second World War and the Cold War. It is still relevant in today’s understanding of international relations, especially when it comes down to understanding, explaining and predicting the actions of a state or between states.

Additionally, international relations theory will always be relevant due to the modernizing of traditional IR theories and the creation of new theories. Therefore, always reflecting the current global political environment. Hence, the ultimate purpose of the discipline is to create order out of disorder and prevent mass global conflict.

Bibliography

Steve Smith on bringing International Relations theory to life. 2014. [Film] s.l.: Oxford Academic (Oxford University Press). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvKRAd9b0zU&feature=emb_imp_woyt

[Accessed 15 March 2021]

Goodman, J. S., 1965. The Concept of "System" in International Relations Theory. Background, 8(4), pp. 257-268.

Nicholson, M., 2000. What's the use of International Relations. Review of International Studies, Volume 26, pp. 183-198.

Algosaibi, G. A. R., 1965. The Theory of International Relations: Hans J. Morgenthau and His Critics. Background, 8(4), pp. 221-256.

Kaplan, M. A., 1961. Is International Relations a Discipline. The Journal of Politics, 23(3), pp. 462-476.

Cristol, J., 2019. International Relations Theory. [Online] Available at: https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780199743292/obo-9780199743292-0039.xml [Accessed 15 March 2021].

Brown, C. & Ainley, K., 2009. Introduction: Defining International Relations. 4th Edition ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.