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En provenance du cours de National Research University Higher School of Economics

Understanding International Relations Theory

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National Research University Higher School of Economics

Understanding International Relations Theory

50 notes

The course aims to introduce the key assumptions of the international relations theory as a part of social science and as an analytic tool, focusing on the problems of war and peace, foreign policy decision-making, etc. The course combines historic approach and analysis of the modern political problems. The historic part shows the evolution of the international relations theory from being a part of political philosophy to its emergence as a special branch of political science, which is essential to understand the key ideas of the IR science. The lectures also include broad outline of the modern concepts and debates in the context of the contemporary political problems, such as rise of China and other emerging powers, threat of terrorism, US-Russia confrontation, etc. The lectures of the two outstanding Russian scholars and political analysts – Timofey Bordachev and Dmitry Suslov - cover such fields as the problems of international security and conflict resolution, international economic relations, foreign policy decision-making, global governance, the role of power in the IR.

À partir de la leçon

Actors in international relations

The module focuses on the one of the key theoretical problems in the IR science: who is actor of international politics? While some theories assumes that only states have enough capabilities ti be considered as actors if IR, some concepts assume that even an individual can play an important role. The module introduces the students to these important debates.

Non-state actors3:11

Non-state actors 23:19

Non-state actors 36:53

Non-state actors 47:01

Rencontrer les enseignants

Timofei Bordachev
Associate professor
Department of international relations
Dmitrii Suslov
Senior Lecturer
Department of international relations, HSE

Now, let's talk a little bit in more detailed way about different types of

non-state actors starting with

non-governmental organizations or non-profit organizations.

Non-governmental organizations, as defined by World Bank,

are private organizations that pursue activities to relieve suffering,

promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment,

provide the basic social services,

or undertake community development.

So, these are institutions created by civil society and they

fulfill their functions that they declare to themselves,

that they write for themselves.

The United Nations Charter also recognizes the role of

non-governmental organizations and they

are mostly active in the Economic and Social Council.

Please take a look to the Article 71 of the United Nations Charter,

and how it defines the role of non-governmental organizations,

and their possible role in the UN structure.

Non-governmental organizations could be considered as

transnational actors according to their activities,

membership, funding, and staff.

In terms of activities,

they have to have more than three nations included into this NGO.

In terms of membership,

they have also to have more than three nations participating.

In terms of funding,

they have to have funding from more than through three nations and the same for staff.

So, their staff should also be representative of at least by three nations.

What is the functions of NGO?

How do they exercise their power,

and how do they influence international relations?

They do so through influencing domestic politics of

certain states from which they originate and in which they operate.

They influence IR by pushing

agendas through international intergovernmental organizations.

Remember, there are opportunity, for instance,

to participate in the performance of

the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations organization.

They shape activities of the civil societies.

They initiate media campaign.

They consolidate financial resources from donations and other sources.

And sometimes, they consolidate lots and lots of money,

for instance, the George Soros Foundation.

The Open Society now possesses $18 billion,

which is a huge of money, and of course,

a very powerful resource in the performance of this NGO.

The examples of non-governmental organizations,

the most known one are Red Cross and Crescent,

which deals with health and medical support.

Transparency International deals with corruption and the questions of transparency.

Human Rights Watch monitors

the human rights situation and human rights violations throughout the world.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,

Bill Gates the founder of Microsoft,

is the NGO which promotes education and development.

And of course, very many other NGOs.

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