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A Brief Introduction to Theories on International Relations and Foreign Policy?

State behavior
Exordium:
In other sciences we do experiments to prove something. E.g., when we heat
water, water boils. This is the experiment but when we talk about the social sciences
then we can’t do experiments we have to research and should use way of history
review, and here are some levels which will prove the state behavior.
Levels of Analysis:
The question of how you examine state behavior? This is the level of analysis
problem. Scholars see several levels of analysis through which state behavior can be
examined.
System level:
System level analysis state behavior by looking at the international system. In
this level of analysis, the international system is the cause and state behavior are the
effect. Characteristics of the international system cause states to behave the way they
do. Change in the international system will cause change in the state behavior. Some
states are powerful, others are weak.
Example:
The cold war has two powerful states. Therefore, central cause of all state
behavior in the cold war was the fact that the US and USSR (the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics). Were two powerful states in a bipolar system.
State Level:
Would we then looking at how states interact with each other to deal with
the crisis in other words, their foreign policy? State level analysis the foreign policy
behavior of states in terms of state characteristics. Or in simple words based on states
and their characteristics.
Example:
Some scholars say that all democracies behave a certain way, they don’t fight
with other democracies. Some scholars might look at the different behaviors of weak or
strong states.
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Organizational Level:
State behavior depends on the organizations. Organizational level
analysis the way in which organizations within a state function to influence foreign
policy behavior foreign relations. States do not make decisions. Organizations interact
each other to create a foreign policy.
Example:
Look at the war of Iraq and try to explain by examining(investigate) the
interests of US military, the department of defense and CIA (central intelligence agency)
Individual Level:
Individual level analysis focus on people. People make decisions within
nation states and therefore people make foreign policy.
Example:
This level of analysis might explain World War 2 by examining the role of Hitler.
This level of analysis also includes cognitive (intellectual activity (such as thinking,
reasoning, or remembering)) theories. Theories that explain foreign policy by looking at
the way leaders see the world.

Theories of State Behavior

The following list illustrates some of the theories that you’ll be reading about. Each
of the theory is specific that tries to explain state behavior.
❖ Classical Realism:
Classical realism is a state level theory that argues that all states seek
power. That is the first and last principle of state behavior. State seeks to increase
their power they always seek to decrease the power of their enemies, and
everything they do is in the name of growth their Power. People are greedy,
insecure and aggressive, so the states they govern will have those same
characteristics. This doesn’t mean war, however, there can be peace.
Example:
The US and USSR were the rivals (competitors) of Cold War. Because the
two most powerful states after World War 2. They were both careful (wary) of
each other’s power and became enemies. But they did not go to war because they
were roughly equal in power.
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❖ Neo Realism:
Neorealism or structural realism is a theory of international relations
that says power is the most important factor in international relations. It was first
outlined by Kenneth Waltz in his 1979 book Theory of International Politics. It argues all
of what classical realism does. However, it sees the cause of all the power struggles and
rivalries(conflicts) not as the function of the nature of the states, but as the function of
the nature of the international system. Power creates rivalry because it is aggressive by
its nature.
❖ Neo-Classical Realism:
Neo-classical realism is a sort of conflict of classical realism. It accepts
all of the above about power rivalries, but it suggests that state characteristics (state
level variables) play a large role in the behavior of states. States just don’t seek power
and just don’t fear other powerful states, there are always reasons those states seek
power and there are always reasons that states fear other states.
Example:
A neo-classical realism might look at the cold war and say that the difference
in the ideology between the US and USSR.
❖ Liberalism:
It basically focuses on democracy and cooperation. Liberalism adds values
into the equation. It is often called idealism. It is a state level theory which argues
that there is a lot of co-operation in the world, not just rivalry. States just not
compete and worry about power. States try to build world order. They often do so
because they have learned that in many instances co-operation is a better
strategy than conflict. States try to create an enforceable international law.
According to this theory Humanity benefits by a peaceful international order,
nations can develop and trade that leads to progress.
❖ Neo-Liberalism:
Neo-Liberalism recognize that cooperation may be harder to achieve. And
it is offshoot (outcome) of liberalism. It is a system level version of liberalism and
focuses on the way in which institutions can influence the behavior of the states by
spreading values or creating rule-based behavior. Neo-Liberals might focus on the role
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of the United Nations or World Trade Organizations in shaping the foreign policy
behavior of states.
❖ Cognitive Theories:
Cognitive theories are characterized by their focus on the idea that how
and what people think leads to the arousal of emotions and that certain thoughts
and beliefs Cognitive theories are those mentioned above which examine the role
of psychological processes – perception, misperception, belief systems – on the
foreign policy behavior of states. Cognitive theories might look at the shared
images and explain the cold war as the product of these negative images.
❖ Constructivism:
Constructivism is a theory that examines state behavior in the context
of state characteristics. All states are unique and have a set of defining political, cultural,
economic, social, or religious characteristics that influence its foreign policy.
(Constructivism is based on the idea that people actively construct or
make their own knowledge, and that reality is determined by your experiences as a
learner. Basically, learners use their previous knowledge as a foundation and build on it
with new things that they learn). The US has a foreign policy character. Russia has a
foreign policy character. The end of the cold war may be a function of changes in the
Russian identify.

Conclusion: