CSS International Relations International Relations Paper I: Theory and Concepts Syllabus

International Relations Paper I: Theory and Concepts syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for International Relations Paper I: Theory and Concepts in CSS International Relations, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Introduction

   3 topics

   • Definition and Scope of International Relations
   • The Nation-State System
   • Evolution of International Society
2. 2

   Theories and Approaches

   4 topics

   • Classical Approaches: Realism and Idealism
   • The Scientific Revolution
   • Neo-realism and Neo-liberalism
   • Critical and Reflectivist Theories
3. 3

   International Political Security

   6 topics

   • Conceptualization of Security in the Twenty-First Century
   • Power and Elements of National Power
   • Balance of Power
   • Foreign Policy
   • Sovereignty
   • National Interest
4. 4

   Strategic Approach to International Relations

   3 topics

   • War and Its Typology
   • Strategic Culture
   • Deterrence: Theory and Practice
5. 5

   International Political Economy

   3 topics

   • Theories in IPE
   • Theories of Imperialism
   • Dependence and Interdependence Discourse
6. 6

   International Political Community

   3 topics

   • Nationalism
   • Internationalism
   • Globalization
7. 7

   Approaches to Peace

   3 topics

   • Diplomacy
   • International Law
   • Arms Control and Disarmament
8. 8

   International Political Institutions

   4 topics

   • United Nations
   • International Monetary Fund (IMF)
   • World Bank
   • International Court of Justice

International Relations Paper I: Theory and Concepts flashcards for CSS International Relations

20 of 61 cards from the International Relations Paper I: Theory and Concepts deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. How is International Relations (IR) defined as an academic discipline?

   IR is the study of the political, economic, and social interactions among state and non-state actors in the international system, including the relations among sovereign states, international organizations, MNCs, and individuals across borders.

2. What is the difference between 'international relations' (lowercase) and 'International Relations' (capitalized)?

   Lowercase 'international relations' refers to the actual interactions and events among actors in the world; capitalized 'International Relations' refers to the academic discipline that studies those interactions.

3. What is the scope of International Relations as a field of study?

   It covers diplomacy, war and peace, foreign policy, international law and organizations, international political economy, security, human rights, the environment, and the behavior of state and non-state actors in the global system.

4. In which year and event is the modern discipline of International Relations conventionally said to have been founded?

   1919, with the establishment of the first Chair of International Politics (the Woodrow Wilson Chair) at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, after World War I.

5. What is the nation-state system?

   A system of governance in which the world is divided into sovereign territorial states, each claiming supreme legal authority over its territory and population, with no higher authority above them (anarchy).

6. Which 1648 treaty is regarded as the foundation of the modern sovereign nation-state system?

   The Peace of Westphalia (1648), which ended the Thirty Years' War and established the principles of state sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference.

7. What core principles did the Peace of Westphalia (1648) establish for the international system?

   State sovereignty, legal equality of states, territorial integrity, and the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other states.

8. What is meant by 'anarchy' in the context of the international system?

   The absence of a central world government or overarching authority above sovereign states; it denotes the lack of hierarchy, not necessarily chaos or disorder.

9. What does the 'English School' mean by an 'international society'?

   A group of states that, conscious of common interests and values, form a society by establishing common rules, institutions (like diplomacy and international law), and shared norms governing their relations.

10. How does the English School distinguish between an 'international system' and an 'international society'?

    An international system exists when states merely interact and affect one another's calculations; an international society exists when states also share common rules, values, and institutions binding them together.

11. What are the core assumptions of classical Realism in IR?

    States are the primary actors in an anarchic system; states pursue power and national interest; human nature is egoistic/power-seeking; and morality is subordinate to survival and security.

12. Who is the author of 'Politics Among Nations' (1948) and the leading figure of classical Realism?

    Hans J. Morgenthau, whose 'Politics Among Nations' set out the principles of power politics and is foundational to classical Realism.

13. What are the core assumptions of Idealism (Liberal Internationalism) in IR?

    Human nature is essentially good and cooperative; war is preventable through international institutions, law, democracy, free trade, and collective security; and moral principles should guide foreign policy.

14. With which US President and post-WWI program is Idealism most associated?

    Woodrow Wilson, associated with his Fourteen Points and the creation of the League of Nations to ensure collective security.

15. What was the 'First Great Debate' in International Relations theory?

    The interwar/post-WWII debate between Idealism (Liberalism) and Realism, in which Realists argued Idealism's faith in institutions and law had failed to prevent World War II.

16. What was the 'Second Great Debate' (the behavioralist debate) in IR?

    The 1950s-60s debate between traditionalists (history, law, philosophy, intuition) and behavioralists/scientists who advocated quantitative, empirical, and value-free methods modeled on natural science.

17. What is meant by the 'Scientific Revolution' or behavioralism in IR?

    A mid-20th-century movement to make IR a rigorous science by using empirical observation, quantitative data, hypothesis testing, and systematic methods rather than purely historical or normative analysis.

18. What are the core assumptions of Neo-realism (Structural Realism)?

    State behavior is shaped chiefly by the anarchic structure of the international system rather than by human nature; states seek security/survival; and the distribution of power (polarity) determines outcomes.

19. Who founded Neo-realism (Structural Realism) and in which 1979 work?

    Kenneth Waltz, in 'Theory of International Politics' (1979).

20. What is the difference between 'defensive' and 'offensive' realism?

    Defensive realism (Waltz) holds states seek only enough power to be secure and survive; offensive realism (Mearsheimer) holds states maximize relative power and seek hegemony because they can never be certain of others' intentions.

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