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
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 deceit and violence can be highly effective tools for
advancing national interests. With homeland defence 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 abysmal 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 engendering 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
neighbouring 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 wane 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
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 behaviour. 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 genocide or
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.

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 behaviour through lobbying and acts of persuasion. 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 (Germany) 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 analyses 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 fulfil 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.