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.
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. By
studying the following key international theories, professionals in the field can better discern the
motivations and goals driving policy decisions worldwide.

Realism in International Relations

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. The
theory further states that a nation’s foremost interest should be self-preservation and that
continually gaining power should always be a social, economic, and political imperative.

The nature of realism implies that seeking a moral high ground is a goal that governments cannot
always achieve and that dishonesty and violence can be highly effective tools for advancing
national interests. 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 nation’s global stature. In modern times, realism is evident in the
foreign policies of China and Russia. 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 community’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. Similarly,
China continues its diplomatic and economic association with North Korea in spite of the latter’s
terrible human rights record and aggressive nuclear testing. Chinese encroachment into the South
China Sea and Russia’s incursions into Ukraine also highlight the two countries’ aggressive—
and at times violent—realist political approach to international affairs.

Liberalism

Also called “liberal internationalism,” liberalism is based on the belief that the current global
system is capable of engender a peaceful world order. Rather than relying on direct force, such as
military action, liberalism places an emphasis on international cooperation as a means of
furthering each nation’s respective interests. Liberalists believe that the negative consequences of
force—such as economic losses and civilian casualties—far exceed its potential benefits.
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). In today’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. As liberalism has become more rooted in international cooperation
through the establishment of organizations like the United Nations, realism has started to fade as
a viable political strategy. 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.
Constructivism
What is constructivism? Constructivism is the theory that says learners construct knowledge rather than just passively take in information. As people experience the world and reflect upon those experiences, they
build their own representations and incorporate new information into their pre-existing knowledge (schemas).

Constructivism rests on the notion that rather than the outright pursuit of material interests, it is a
nation’s belief systems—historical, cultural and social —that explain its foreign policy efforts
and behavior. 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 conflict that threatens to spill over
into other nations. This has been demonstrated by the country’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.

Constructivism sees the world, and what we can know about the world, as socially constructed.
This view refers to the nature of reality and the nature of knowledge that are also called ontology
and epistemology in research language. Alexander Wendt (1995) offers an excellent example
that illustrates the social construction of reality when he explains that 500 British nuclear
weapons are less threatening to the United States than five North Korean nuclear weapons. These
identifications are not caused by the nuclear weapons (the material structure) but rather by the
meaning given to the material structure (the ideational structure). It is important to understand
that the social relationship between the United States and Britain and the United States and North
Korea is perceived in a similar way by these states, as this shared understanding (or
intersubjectivity) forms the basis of their interactions. The example also shows that nuclear
weapons by themselves do not have any meaning unless we understand the social context.
Despite extreme international pressure and sanctions, North Korea has defiantly pursued a nuclear weapons program for decades in a self-described attempt to protect the regime from the security threats posed
by adversarial countries. In 2003, North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and then tested its first nuclear weapon on October 9, 2006. It continues to build its stockpile of nuclear weapons,
test short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, and produce fissile material. North Korea has not conducted a nuclear or long-range missile test since 2017.

It further demonstrates that constructivists go beyond the material reality by including the effect
of ideas and beliefs on world politics. This also entails that reality is always under construction,
which opens the prospect for change. In other words, meanings are not fixed but can change over
time depending on the ideas and beliefs that actors hold.

In the late 20th century the study of international relations was increasingly influenced by
constructivism. According to this approach, the behaviour of humans is determined by their
identity, which itself is shaped by society’s values, history, practices, and institutions.
Constructivists hold that all institutions, including the state, are socially constructed, in the sense
that they reflect an “intersubjective consensus” of shared beliefs about political practice,
acceptable social behaviour, and values. In much the same way, the individual members of the
state or other unit continuously construct the reality about which policy decisions, including
decisions about war and peace and conflict and cooperation, are made.

Constructivist theory emphasizes the meanings that are assigned to material objects, rather than
the mere existence of the objects themselves. For example, a nuclear weapon in the United
Kingdom and a nuclear weapon in North Korea may be materially identical (though, so far, they
are not) but they possess radically different meanings for the United States.
Some constructivists contend that gender is socially constructed. On the basis of this
thesis, feminist theories of international relations have attempted to address the fundamental
question of the extent to which gender-based role differentiation is socially rather than
biologically determined. In so doing, they have sought to answer questions such as: Are men
more prone than women to aggressive, warlike behaviour? If gender roles are socially
constructed, then according to feminist theory it would be possible to reduce male aggressiveness
by changing beliefs or values regarding what it is to be male. On the other hand, if aggression is
the product of male biology, then such change becomes impossible, or at least considerably more
difficult.

Constructivists 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 point of view. 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. International
organizations play a role in promoting human rights and making them an international standard
to which countries are expected to conform.

Marxism

Karl Marx was a Prussian philosopher and economist whose works posited that societies could
escape the self-destructive nature of capitalist socioeconomic systems by implementing socialist
theory into their policies, both locally and abroad. Marxism, a theory that closely analyzes social
classes, aims to dismantle the capitalist structure of the international system, as it states that
capitalism is no longer practically sustainable in the modern world. Marx believed that private
property should be replaced by cooperative ownership, with the emphasis placed entirely on
satisfying human needs for consumption, rather than creating private profit. Under an ideal
socialist international regime, societies would work together to ensure that basic human needs
were met on a global scale. Marxism was a dominant political ideology during the Cold War and
inspired socialist revolutions in countries such as China, Vietnam and Cuba. Marxism’s
influence can still be felt today, with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung encouraging
students to study Marxism in exchange for free tuition. The Marxist revival is not exclusive to
current and former communist nations; The 2017 Marxism Festival was hosted by the Socialist
Workers Party in London and attracted thousands of activists from across the world. As the
global population continues to grow and sustainability becomes increasingly precarious,
Marxism remains a relevant topic of discussion for those who advocate the prioritization of
human needs over private profit.

Feminism

Gender issues are a significant concern within global politics, and feminism as an international
relations theory seeks to regulate the power derived from (or denied on the basis of) an
individual’s gender. Feminists are mostly interested in tracking political and social developments
that inhibit success in female populations. When systems of power subtly or overtly tell women
they can only fulfill certain roles, those limitations become social norms and perpetuate the
cycle. The significance of feminism in international relations is evidenced by the role women
play in promoting more just and fair international relations policies. Women like Hillary Clinton
and Condoleezza Rice have both made important contributions to the advancement of women
worldwide. As a senator representing the state of New York, Clinton co-sponsored the Lilly
Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, which was aimed at combatting gender-based pay
discrimination. Rice was instrumental in starting the One Woman Initiative, which provides
access to legal rights, political participation, and economic development to women living in
countries with a large Muslim population.

Outside of the U.S., the adoption of feminist policies has propelled women to political
achievement. Iceland has maintained women’s rights as integral to their political policy since
1850, when the nation granted unconditional inheritance rights to men and women. The nation,
which also granted women suffrage five years before the United States in 1915, has also seen
women in the highest levels of government: former President Vigdís Finnbogadóttir and current
Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir were the first women to be elected to these positions in
1980 and 2009, respectively. The National Committee for the United Nations Development Fund
for Women (UNIFEM) in Iceland was established in 1989 and focused on improving the social
status of women across the globe. The contributions of nations such as Iceland have been
financially and socially impactful, addressing the need for true gender equality and
demonstrating the positive effects of feminism in domestic and foreign policy.

With the rapid changes taking place in the current geopolitical landscape, discerning why
governments act as they do and understanding the implications of those actions has never been
more crucial. When leveraged properly, these theories can be used to accomplish a broad array
of objectives; therefore, international relations professionals must possess a keen understanding
of the specific impact each theoretical approach to international relations can have on global
diplomatic efforts. Obtaining a master’s degree in international relations—such as the Master of
Arts in International Relations degree offer by Norwich University—can help individuals deepen
their knowledge and understanding of these theories and prepare them for the rigors of a career
in international diplomacy.

Learn More

As the nation’s oldest private military college, Norwich University has been a leader in
innovative education since 1819. Through its online programs, Norwich delivers relevant and
applicable curricula that allow its students to make a positive impact on their places of work and
their communities.

Our online Master of Arts in International Relations program offers a curriculum which evolves
with current events to help you face the future of international affairs. The program covers many
subjects to give you a look at the internal workings of international players, examine the role of
state and non-state actors on the global stage, and explore different schools of thought. You can
further strengthen your knowledge by choosing one of five concentrations in International
Security, National Security, International Development, Cyber Diplomacy, or Regions of the
World.
Recommended Readings:
4 Trends Involving International Security
6 Insights on International Economic Development
Career Outlook: Foreign Service Specialist

Sources:

Fifty Key Thinkers in International Relations, Google Books

Handbook of International Relations, Google Books
The Globalization of World Politics, Google Books
Realism in International Relations, E-International Relations
How China, The World’s Oldest Marxist State, Proves Marx Wrong, The Atlantic
Vietnam Seeks to Lure Students to Study Marxism with Free Tuition, The New York Times
IR Theory: Problem Solving Theory vs. Critical Theory, E-International Relations
Marxism Festival, Marxism Festival.org
Women’s Rights and Opportunities, The Office of Hillary Rodham Clinton
One Woman Initiative Fund for Women's Empowerment, U.S. Department of State
Feminism’s Influence on Iceland’s Foreign Policy, E-International Relations