Question No: 1

Historical Developments and Intellectual Influences in the Emergence of

International Relations:

The domain of international relations (IR) was established as a separate and identifiable
field of study emerging from a wave of historical influences and a variety of intellectual
standpoints spanning centuries. These variables have crucial influence on making the
world politics and relations between the states.

Historical Developments:

Peace Treaties and Power Dynamics: The Peace of Westphalia in 1648 topples down
a monumental milestone in international affairs. It has created modern state system and
principle of nation-state sovereignty, which is a basis of recognizing nation-states as
independent entities that define their own boundaries. This treaty played its part as well
as the theory of the balance power concept, which has been shaping the diplomacy
laws so far.

Colonial Expansion and Imperialism: Exploration and colonization in particular during

the nineteenth century brought a plethora of empires and the establishment of
European privileged status that was held over large fields of land worldwide (Devetak,
R., George, J., & Percy, S. , 2017). The race for the colonies and the resources for the
territories made the existing geopolitical rivalries worse and, in such manner,
determined the power structure, which is now studied by the IR researchers.

World Wars and Global Conflicts: The World Wars I and II, full of destruction to make
peace among nations of the world, illustrated the need to understand the causes of war
and the methods for conserving peace on a global scale. Scholars found impetus in this
series of crisis to analyze international politics on more systematic manner.

Intellectual Influences:

Classical Political Thought: Thinkers like Thucydides, Machiavelli and Hobbes were
the first to illuminate in their works the reasons behind the mechanisms that lead to the
human behavior, power relations and statecraft. These authors developed a realistic
theoretical basis for IR scholars, and a focus on power and national interest became
central themes in international relations.

Enlightenment Philosophy: In the enlightenment period, rationalism, liberty, and

equality served as the basis for the development of Liberalism in International Relations.
Figures such as John Locke, for example, as far back as in the 18th century proclaimed
notions of individual rights and social contract with an impact on liberal theories where
in the future is given emphasis to cooperation, democracy, and international institutions.
Modern Political Theory: The scholarly works of the 20th century like those of E.H.
Carr, Hans Morgenthau and Kenneth Waltz – particularly on realism and neorealism -
took this refinement yet further. There manifestations of power politics, state behavior
and the international system gave the framework for a better unfolding of interstate
relations in the post as World War II was over.

Question No: 2

Realism and liberalism are two major theories in the area of International Relations,
which convey unlike views on the problem of how the states interact and about the
functioning of the international system.

Nature of States:

Realism: Realists cast states as the main players in international diplomacy. Steph of
states is believed to be a rational actor, which is motivated, only by self-interest and the
can of power. As the realists, advocate survival is the ultimate goal of states in a
competitive and anarchic international system.

Liberalism: Rather than realists, liberals assert that the motives of states are not solely
determined by power politics. They portray the states as subjects that are able to work
together for shared purposes Liberals stress that states’ conduct is determined by the
existence of institutions, norms, and international laws.

View on Conflict and Cooperation:

Realism: Realists consider international politics growing on anarchic system, and

therefore, it is not that conflict is surprising. They view that states will be compelled to
fight for power and security in the self-defense mode and the wars will be the
consequent regular occurrence.

Liberalism: Liberals admit to the fact that conflict is inevitable but they are also optimistic
thinking that cooperation among states is achievable. Interdependence of economies,
common values, and framework of institutions, according to them, can result in
marginalization of conflict, leading to peace.

Understanding of Power:

Realism: The doctrine of realism has power in its core. The realists define power as the
combination of hard power with military capabilities, soft power with economic strengths
and geopolitical influence (Waldron, 2020). To them, states’ seek to achieve the
maximum power balance against other states to secure their security and existence.
Liberalism: Liberalists do not deny the main role of power but they determine it more
widely than Realists do. Supporters of liberalism not only recognize the importance of
military and economic power, but also highlight the power of ideas, institutions, and soft
power. Such people think that state purposes would be best served through convincing,
negotiating, and cooperation instead of coercion (Doyle, 2005).

Assessment of Human Nature:

Realism: Realists believe that people are mostly selfish and that states are always
aspiring to gain power and to go to war. They confirm that the quest for power and
security is a part of our innate nature that stems from the idea that we are some kind of
superior beings.

Liberalism: Liberals are characterized by a more positive view of human nature and they
believe in the potential for people to be guided by reason, cooperate, and act morally.
They postulate that through understanding, arguing, negotiating, compromising it is
possible to make individuals, and states overcome their interest and cooperate for the
good of it all.

Question No: 3

The impact of some of the big historical events in the international realm between the
years 1900 to 1945 on the focus and development of the discipline of international
relations is unmatched, modifying its theories and making them more relevant.

Here's how these events influenced the field:

World War I (1914-1918):

Impact: The experience of a WWI fundamentally shattered traditional understanding and

verification of sovereignty of states, distribution of power, and international system. The
urgency of war and the large number of dead gave rise to academics to find solutions
and avert future wars.

Theories Developed: The consequence of Inner World War I represented the triumph of
realism as a primary approach in international matters (Proctor, 2010). Realism
envisaged international anarchy and the pole of power politics within the system, as well
as the self-evident fact that all the states wrangle amongst themselves.

Treaty of Versailles (1920):

Impact: The Treaty of Versailles that ended WWI, made Germany pay large-scale
punishment in the form of reparations and territory loss. The Treaty of Versailles marked
the end of the war and left Germany in the poor and resentful condition. This is the set
of preconditions for the further disputes.
Theories Developed: Ineffective of Treaty of Versailles showing premature lessons
regarding international peace has brought forward criticism of utopian political theories.
Realists declared that such treaty may solely punitive and is not sustainable
consequently can even lead to conflict.

Rise of Totalitarianism and Fascism:

Impact: The inclination of totalitarian regimes in Europe, specifically Nazi Germany and
Fascist Italy, to overturn democratic principles and to threaten the foundation of the
worldwide order laid down a new context which played a major role in the onset of the
Second world war.

Theories Developed: Realists outlined the power battles between the states and the
aggressive foreign policy of the dictatorships as a key issue. The decision to the
collective security endeavors is confirming the critiques that idealist.

Great Depression (1929-1939):

Impact: Economic disaster of the Great Depression provided a breeding ground for
social injustices, unrest between society and political instability and as a result, the
world has to face protectionism, which makes the situation even worse.

Theories Developed: Economists, in their search for the linkages between domestic
stability and the chances of international conflicts, discovered these connections. The
treatment of liberal theories had a particular role towards economic collaboration and
institutions to prevent economic crashes and wars.

World War II (1939-1945):

Impact: Second, the League of Nations and the mechanisms created by it to prevent
conflict were shown to be insufficiently effective during WWII. Holocaust and other
horrible events appealed to the ethical necessity of international aid and human rights
advancement (Polmar, N., & Allen, T. B., 2012).

Theories Developed: WWII just added more support to the realist perspective, including
the imperativeness of strong state defensive tools. It in addition brought about the
evolution of the system of liberalist doctrine based on the necessity of international
institutions, human rights and safety.
References:
Devetak, R., George, J., & Percy, S. (2017). An introduction to international relations. Cambridge
University Press.

Doyle, M. W. (2005). Three pillars of the liberal peace. American political science review, 99(3), 463-466.

Polmar, N., & Allen, T. B. (2012). World War II: The Encyclopedia of the War Years, 1941-1945. Courier
Corporation.

Proctor, T. M. (2010). Civilians in a World at War, 1914-1918. In Civilians in a World at War, 1914-1918.
New York University Press.

Waldron, K. (2020). Gilpinian Realism and Peaceful Change: The Coming Sino-American Power
Transition. E-International Relations, 23, 1-11.