Understanding the Modern International Relations - World Theory and Order - Essay Example

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS - PORTFOLIO By Name Course Instructor Institution City/State Date International Relations - Portfolio Introduction My approach towards international relations (IR) has facilitated me to understand the different IR theoretical approaches both originating from the discipline itself as well as those borrowed from other disciplines like sociology and economics. Scores of international relations’ theories are contested externally and internally. I have been equipped with a substantive background and analytical tools to comprehend various issues associated with the world politics. By engaging with different IR theories and approaches, I have learned the essence of international and regional politics and relations and political theories. I have also been able to discern why IR practice has progressively surfaced as constructivism core category and also why the practice concept must be promoted from a supporting role to the leading role. In this piece, I demonstrate a self-reflexive awareness regarding IR as a discipline, its concepts and theories, and the issues surrounding the global politics. Analysis A number of readings have enabled me to start thinking theoretically. I have discerned that IR theory is exciting and the classroom readings and assignments enabled me to sample the engaging and intriguing dexterity of the IR theorist. All lenses were introduced through some introductory readings that were complemented by some guided reading questions. The various assignments we have done, I have discerned the value of foreign policy, IR theories and world politics. While working on ARTS 3783, I learned that it is not easy to make a good policy when the basic organising principles are unsound. I further discerned that is very challenging for good theories to be constructed devoid of understanding a great deal regarding the real world. While reviewing Melissen (2005) study, it came to my attention that countries that are perceived as attractive are the ones that assist in the framing of issues, whose ideas and culture are not far off the predominant global norms and policies. In this case, values are utilised to reinforce these countries’ credibility overseas (Melissen, 2005, p.55). After concluding ARTS 3783, I learned that In IR the power concept is fundamental, but the actor capable of doing what other actors cannot do is the one who is normally favoured. I agree with Barnett and Duvall (2015, p.40) that when IR discipline exhibits conceptual favouritism, it disregards the diverse power forms within the global politics and has not been able to develop a far-reaching understanding with regard to how actors are empowered differentially and restrained in establishing their fates. The ARTS 3783 further enabled me to understand why power is the main concept of global politics. I discovered that power was refocused after the 9/11 attacks, the Iraq invasion by the United States, and the on-going war on terrorism. Therefore, I was able to understand why realists consider power as the ability of the actors to utilise their material resources to make other actors do what they were unlikely to do. For instance, the U.S. is utilising its economic and military resources to overcome opposition put forth by non-state and state actors. Barnett and Duvall (2015) book, “power in international politics” has given me a new understanding that free trade is part of the power politics because it makes states that are indoctrinated to assent to new economic relations systems. As a result, these states are introduced to new exploitation and dependence relations. The powerful states can easily sustain international orders if the dominated states give in to the domination. While the international relations’ scholars continue debating with regard to explanatory significance, role, and nature of power, Barnett and Duvall (2015, p.69) suggest that they must acknowledge the mechanisms of various concepts and integrate them systematically into their research. Although the criticism directed towards the concept of national interest is much more than the one directed to the other IR concepts, I realised that the value of ‘national interest’ concept towards the international politics practitioners and the society at large is much more. Rochester (1978) enabled me to understand why the concept is used by decision-makers to rationalise and legitimise decisions made with regard to foreign policy. Given that there exists an inexorable connection between real worm of policy as well as the abstract worm of theory, I concur with Walt (1998, p.29) that individuals conducting foreign policy should not dismiss academic theorists. The theories are important because they help work out the information storm bombarding people day after day. By dismissing the theories, the policymakers are forced to rely on their own ideas regarding how the world operates while deciding what to do. Theories should be applied by policymakers because the differences attributed to policy normally hinge on more important differences regarding the main forces shaping the international outcomes. While focusing on ARTS 3783, it discovered that there is no specific approach that can completely capture the intricacy related to modern-day world politics. Therefore, it is advantages to have different competing ideas instead of one theoretical tenet. Clearly, this intersubjective power main concept completes the interpretivist as well as sociological turn within the constructivist IR; that is to say, international politics is a social construct the defines and constructs identities. In ARTS 3783 assignment, I observed how it is important for the U.S. to recognise that achieving efficiency and efficacy depend on the implemented strategies (see Appendix 1). With undisputable military resource, the U.S. has a lot of allies, but its foreign policy is continually disputed by emerging nations such as China and Russia. While working on ARTS 3814 assignment, I came to agree with the constructivists that the IR world is incomparable to the natural world because it is not fixed. Although international system rules are considered anarchical because of no having a central government, I learned that the rules are formulated and reproduced through human practices. In his article, Guzzini (2000, p.155) makes me understand that the intersubjective rules that were construed from international anarchy or human nature offer a meaning to the IR practices. I was surprised that constructivists consider the social world as shaped by the material world. When I finished ARTS 3814, I had realised that the military power of a state and the distribution of the military power amongst states do not create an international social structure. I also discerned that even though the international system lacks central governance, the system as maintained by Nugroho (2008, p.91) cannot be considered as the ‘competitive security system’. Rather, it can be a ‘cooperative’ or an ‘individualistic’ security system as suggested by the neoliberals. Importantly, the distribution of military power as well as anarchy cannot define the relations and identities of the states. I have identified that when the military power of a country is considered strong, it can be perceived as a protecting power or threatening power for other countries. What I have learned up till now has enabled me understand what Nugroho (2008, p.91) meant by saying that even though power distribution and military capabilities are considered as the intervening factors, they are less inclined to sufficiently recognise relations between the states. I mentioned in ARTS 3814 that Australia defence policy even though it is considered to be great, scores of scholars, both continentalists as well internationalists have inconstantly called for reforms in the defence policy (see Appendix 2). Solomon (2014) article enabled me to understand why the majority of discourse-based studies regarding the terror war led by the U.S. stress the enduring poststructuralist themes, like the terrorism productive power discourses. Clearly, many studies have been theorising the terror war as a social construct, which is contestable as well as factually contingent. I agree that terrorism as a social construction should be viewed as a discursive element instead of a material fact. The main national interest in almost all countries including Australia is their survival as well as national security. Therefore, while they continue pursuing the national security, states also try to accumulate resources. While I was reviewing the Australian foreign policy in ARTS 3814 I noted that the domestic policy process is normally influenced by a number of actors, such as economic and social interest groups, the executive, the legislature, and political parties (Flemes & Wojczewski, 2010, p.9). Presently, Australia is facing a lot of external pressures because it is geostrategically positioned. The rise of China has turned out to be the overriding theme in the modern-day international affairs studies; therefore, Australia is straddling a challenging chasm attributed to its increased security relationship with the United States and the improving economic relationship with China. I agree with McLean (2012, p.2) that although Australia’s bordering neighbours appear to be somehow weak; the regional powers such as India are presenting some concerns. In ARTS 3814 assignment, I observed that a number of states are claiming the middle power state with the aim of participating in the global issues. Kevin Rudd utilised this technique to gain an opportunity for Australia at the power table. The significance of embracing this approach exhibits that Australia actively considers the moral values, norms and rules that bind countries together (see Appendix 3). IR is a broad topic as evidenced by ARTS 3810. Extreme poverty can be defined as a global issue that has led to various social problems. ARTS 3810 enabled me to comprehend the great connection between and vulnerability to transmittable disease like HIV/AIDS, increased use of drugs and alcohol, as well as high crime rates. I used to know that unchecked poverty can lead to economic instability, but resulting in increased terrorism was completely a new concept to me. I further established that extreme poverty can be reduced by facilitating the domestic resource mobilisation, capitalising on technology; and promoting self-reliance through the implementation of social and economic policies (see Appendix 4). Thanks to Chandler (2015) article, I now understand the value of expanding international desires since it governs regulates as well as secures the problems associated with the conflict-poverty nexus. The articles I used to write the ARTS 3810 assignment broaden my understanding regarding the issues of poverty as well as conflict and how they have become de-securitised as well as de-politicised and also why they are viewed as the opportunities for coping, rather than means for social transformation. ARTS 2216 enabled me to learn another aspect of IR. I learned that the Asian political-security area has led to concerns that have consequently influenced the trade of arms in the Asia-Pacific region. Such concerns include modernisation issues, doctrinal issues, and insecurity perceptions. I further noted that militaries across South-east Asian region are refocusing their security concerns to external threats instead of threats. Furthermore, the modernisation of the Chinese military has forced the neighbouring countries to upgrade their military powers. I observed that Asian countries are rapidly modernising their armed forces with the objective of protecting themselves from states perceived as more powerful and to become autonomous in case a power struggle between two countries arises (see Appendix 5). I never knew that multiculturalism was an important IR concept. In social contexts, especially those that are culturally diverse, Berry (2016, p.7) mentioned that people normally intercultural contact. ARTS 2846 enabled me to understand why a number of countries have policies in place that seek to accommodate and manage diversity. These policies are accompanied by programs that support cultural diversity; however, it came to my attention that the programs and policies unaccompanied cannot adequately facilitate the realisation of a multicultural society. As I compared the Canadian and Australian multiculturalism policies, I observed that there were huge gaps between the two countries in terms of how multiculturalism is practised (see Appendix 6). I realised that multiculturalism has been embraced in Canada for many years while in Australia it was adopted as a form of damage control considering that Australia was in the past marred with marginalisation as well as racial discrimination of the minority groups such as the Aboriginals. I agree with Berry (2016, p.12) that multiculturalism policies increase civil participation since the people’s sense of belonging are tremendously improved. Still, in spite of the positive outcomes associated with multicultural policies, people have continually misinterpreted multicultural policies as exclusionary and considered aggressive and intimidating by individuals from the dominant groups. Conclusion Understanding the modern world theory and order was complex, but after taking the IR classes, I have been able to understand the complex public and security policy issues such as rising powers, terrorism, international political theory, US foreign policy and others that have plagued the 21st century. Without a doubt, the IR course has enabled me to re-examine my understandings about world politics theoretically, analytically and, conceptually. In conclusion, I have demonstrated how scores of international relations theories are contested aggressively, and I have also pointed out why all theories rely on certain epistemologies as well as assumptions and pursue their own systematic objective. I think that the future of IR theories and practices rely on the vitality of that unending debate. As I mentioned earlier, the powerful states can force other states to do what they had not planned to do because of their military and economic resources. References Barnett, M. & Duvall, R., 2015. Power in International Politics. International Organization, vol. 59, pp.39-75. Berry, J., 2016. Special issue "Multiculturalism and intercultural relations: comparative analysis". Psychology in Russia: State of the Art, vol. 9, no. 1, pp.1-20. Bueger, C. & Gadinger, F., 2015. The Play of IThe Play of International Practicenternational Practice. International Studies Quarterly, vol. 59, pp.449–60. Chandler, D., 2015. Rethinking the Conflict-Poverty Nexus: From Securitising Intervention to Resilience. Stability: International Journal of Security & Development, vol. 4, no. 1, pp.1-14. Flemes, D. & Wojczewski, T., 2010. Contested Leadership in International Relations: Power Politics in South America, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. GIGA Working Papers. Hamburg: GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies. Guzzini, S., 2000. A Reconstruction of Constructivism in International Relations. European Journal of International Relations, vol. 6, no. 2, pp.147–82. McLean, W., 2012. Power and Ideas in Australian Foreign Policy. In Australian Political Science Association Conference., 2012. Melissen, J., 2005. The New Public Diplomacy Soft Power in International Relations. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. Nugroho, G., 2008. Constructivism and International Relations Theories. Global & Strategis, vol. II, no. 1, pp.85-98. Rochester, J., 1978. The Paradigm Debate in International Relations and Its Implications for Foreign Policy Making: Toward a Redefinition of the "National Interest". Western Political Quarterly, vol. 31, no. 1, pp.48-58. Solomon, T., 2014. Time and Subjectivity in World Politics. International Studies Quarterly, vol. 58, pp.671–81. Walt, S.M., 1998. International Relations: One World, Many Theories. Foreign Policy, no. 110, pp.29-56. Portfolio of Evidence Appendices 1. ARTS 3783 foreign policy review 2. ARTS 3814 Short Essay 3. ARTS 3814 critical review 4. ARTS 3810 Media Article 5. ARTS 2216 Major Essay 6. ARTS 2846 Final essay Read More