IRR 208: International Relations

The Evolution of International Relations

Ibnul Hasan
The word "international relations" has two distinct meanings and is ambiguous and often used. The term's
first definition relates to cross-state contacts between states and between states and state-based actors. The
phrase is comparable to another often used phrase in this context: international politics. International
politics are only one aspect of international relations. The second phrase is therefore included into the
first. In fact, one of the most significant subfields of international relations is often seen as being
international politics. Jeremy Bentham originally used this definition of "foreign relations" in his work
Principles of Morals and Legislation, published in 1789.

The word "international relations" (IR) has a second meaning that indicates a different area of academic
study from other social sciences like economics, law, and sociology, among others. With the creation of
the first chair in the subject at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, this second definition of the word
(IR) really dates back to 1919. Therefore, the first meaning of the phrase is the subject of research into the
second.

Rise of Nationalism
The concept of nationalism is founded on the idea that a person's devotion to and allegiance to their
nation-state come before their own or other people's interests.

Modern nationalism is a movement. People have been loyal to their homelands, their parents' traditions,
and established territorial governments throughout history. However, it wasn't until the end of the 18th
century that nationalism became a widely accepted sentiment that shaped public and private life and was
one of the major, if not the major, single determining factors of modern history. Due to its dynamic
liveliness and all-encompassing nature, nationalism is sometimes wrongly believed to be extremely
ancient and a constant feature in political behaviour. Actually, it’s earliest truly potent expressions may be
seen in the American and French Revolutions. The early 19th century saw its expansion from the newly
colonised nations of Latin America to central Europe, and from there, by the middle of the century, to
eastern and southeastern Europe. In Asia and Africa at the start of the 20th century, nationalism exploded.
Be a result, the 19th century has been referred to as the European Age of Nationalism, whilst the 20th
century saw the birth and conflict of strong national movements throughout Asia and Africa. The French
Revolution is a good illustration of European nationalism. It resulted in changes to France's politics and
constitution. In 1789, the body of citizens took over the reins of authority from the monarch. It was
declared that going forward; the French people will choose the course of their nation by adopting
Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen.

Nationalism in Bangladesh

The history of the formation and expansion of Bengali language and literature, primarily during the
Bengal Sultanate period, paralleled the development of Bangladesh's geographical and cultural identity.
The peaceful cohabitation and cultural blending of Muslims and Hindus during this time period also
served as a reflection of religious diversity. The Nawab of Bengal's tenure saw a further advancement in
the concept of a nation-state. After the Indian Rebellion of 1857, in the middle of the 19th century, the
idea of nationalism initially took root in the nation and was based on anti-colonial feeling prevalent under
British rule. Through the partition of Bengal in 1905, which was fiercely opposed by the Hindus in West
Bengal and backed by the Muslims in East Bengal, this nationalism underwent a new iteration. Even
though the split was revoked in 1911, it had a profound and long-lasting effect on the populace and for
the first time planted the seeds of intercommoned discord between Hindus and Muslims. It was the start
of a religious nationalism that eventually prompted the Muslims to establish their own state.

The inhabitants of then-East Pakistan saw a rapid shift away from religious nationalism following the
creation of Pakistan, which was mostly a result of West Pakistani elites' discrimination towards East
Pakistanis on cultural, economic, and political grounds. The largest example of this ethno linguistic
nationalism, which eventually became known as Bengali nationalism, was the language movement of
1952. This led to East Pakistan's desire for regional autonomy, which ultimately culminated in
Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971.

Bangladeshi nationalism is an ideology that supports the nationals of Bangladesh's territorial identity.
Ziaur Rahman, a former president of Bangladesh, promoted the philosophy when it first developed in the
late 1970s. The country's history of nationalism begins during the colonial era, when anti-colonial groups
against the British Empire first appeared in the area. Soon a religious nationalism that subsequently
transformed into ethno linguistic nationalism started to take shape. Leaders like Ziaur Rahman started to
advance Bangladeshi nationalism, which was founded on the geographical attachment of Bangladeshis,
after the country gained independence in 1971. Political center-right and right-wing parties in
Bangladesh, led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, are the leading proponents of Bangladeshi
nationalism.

Sovereignty
In political theory, sovereignty is the ultimate controlling force or power over the state's decision-making
and the upkeep of law and order. One of the most controversial terms in political science and international
law, sovereignty is directly tied to the complex principles of state and government, independence, and
democracy.

A sovereign state, usually referred to as a sovereign nation, is a political entity with a single centralized
government and the highest level of lawful power over its territory. According to international law,
sovereign nations must have a continuous population, a clearly defined territory, a single governing body,
and the ability to interact with other sovereign states. It is also normally understood that a sovereign state
is independent. A state's sovereign position bestows various benefits, rights, and authorities on it. The
basic characteristic of a sovereign state is that it has the legal authority to exercise the exclusive or
unrestricted power to manage its own internal affairs without interference from other parties and the legal
right to form alliances and treaties with other nations and institutions. Additionally, it will be capable of
self-defence against any assault. One important consequence of sovereignty is that all states are equals
and a state is not bound to submit itself to international adjudication unless it has first given its consent
that it is prepared to do so.

Nation-State
A nation-state is a territorially confined sovereign government, or state, that is governed on behalf of a
group of people who identify as a nation. The Westphalian Treaty provided the framework for the growth
of the contemporary nation state system. A nation state is a sovereign political state whose borders
completely enclose a country and whose population are mostly bonded by a shared language, culture,
religion, and origin. With the creation of nation states, a new era in international relations was born. In
order to further their national interests, nation states established relationships with one another. As a new
global order without conflicts could only be constructed by an appropriate understanding of international
relations, the pursuit of national interests frequently resulted in the outbreak of war. International relations
was only a popular pastime before to the First World War. The average person had little idea how states
interacted with one another or what could be gained or lost through developing relationships with other
states. The international order created by the Peace of Westphalia crumbled in 1914 with the start of the
First World War. Then, people began to exhibit interest in establishing a new international order and in
international relations in order to stop such catastrophic wars in the future.