MAIA 702 Theories of International Relations Lecturer PERCYSLAGE CHIGORA chigorap@msu.ac.zw Office 42 Consultation: by Appointment

MAIA 702 Theories of International Relations The study of international relations (events1900- 1945) World wars and efforts to bring peace Before that preoccupation was with war studies/security studies State and power (Westafalia treaty and the evolution of the state system) brought changes to the role of the state.

MAIA 702 Theories of International Relations In an effort to deal with diversity of actors and diversity and complexity of interaction international scholars have come up with themes as tools of analysis that facilitates a better understanding of the international system A theory can be said to be a set of propositions and hypothesis that are logically related to each other. It brings organisation and capacity to gather knowledge and enable a scholar to tie together positions. Hoffman has observed that theory is understood as a set of interrelated government capable of guiding research both of empirical and normative variety.

MAIA 702 Theories of International Relations International relations (its overall-economic, political, socio- cultural) International politics/world politics (deals with specific field- POLITICS-POLITICAL ECONOMY) It is not a history course- it studies NOT what happened but why things happened, or why do they happen.It EXPLAINS rather than DESCRIBEWHY INTERNATIONAL POLITICS DIFFER FROM DOMESTIC POLITICS? Anarchy – there is no international government (legislature, courts, executive weak) Self-help system- world politics is seen as struggle for power. Nations in constant state of war but not always at war but threat of war constantly looms.

MAIA 702 Theories of International Relations Use of force is considered a legitimate means for settling disputes among nations. Zimbabwe defends itself and no any other can, if its goal is to survive Law is not enforceable in international system- few rules and no enforcement Governments have no monopoly on legitimate use of force in domestic society but no equivalent in international society. Weaker sense of community and shared values and norms, standards of justice, views of authority, goals and aspirations

MAIA 702 Theories of International Relations CHANGE in IR Politically –towards integration (EU, AU) /towards disintegration (USSR, Yugoslavia) Militarily –end of cold war, new nuclear powers, and small arms Environmentally- ozone depletion, Kyoto treaty, deforestation, desertification, tsunamiEconomically- globalization, regional blocks, MNCs – nandos, chicken in, pizza in Human rights and social welfare-colonization revisited, Tianamen square, taliban, riots WTO.   Robert Frost 1911 “ most of the change we think we see in life is due to truths being in and out of flavour”

MAIA 702 Theories of International Relations CONTINUITY IR   Militarily- war- Kosovo, Congo, Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq etc Politically – failure to have world government, disintegration of some states Economically – exploitation continues, extraction of resources Environmentally- degradation continues- land, air, ocean Human rights- poverty and degradation of human life continues Health- millions die of diseases, life expectances much shorter.