Research Paper on Theory of International Relations

Introduction

Theory of international relations offers a theoretical framework for analyzing situations about the interactions between unique international actors and the corresponding phenomenon arising from their actions and decisions. Unlike international ideologies, the theory of international relations is well supported by concrete evidence. The international relations theory allows one to see the salient events around the actors in the international space and the impact it has on a specific country. Each theory corresponds to various schools of thought with adherents who introduced and developed. As a result, there are several theories of international relations including realism, liberalism, constructivism, Marxism, functionalism, English school, feminism and green theory. Most of these theories are based on the assumption that nations act according to their national interest. Most often, nations prioritize interests such as self-preservation, economic prosperity, military security and influence over other nations.

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From a realism theoretical perspective, the international system is innately disorderly, and the relations are anarchic. This is because nations only strive to increase their power and influence over other states such that international actors are always locked against a struggle for security and power (Burchill et al., 2013). The relations are anarchic since there exists no supranational authority that would govern or enforce rules against their conduct. The theory of realism also supposes that states are necessarily the main actors in the international politics. States will strive for power and security to guarantee self-preservation as a national self-interest of protecting itself. Based on realism, international system compels nations to embrace military force and war. Consequently, s state will either have power or none at all based on its military prowess. Realism is practiced in today's world but was most prominent during the Cold War. For example, the United States viewed the Soviet Union with suspicion and each state had to look for allies to protect itself by expanding military and political influence across the borders.

On the contrary, liberalism theory proposes that prosperity of nations depends on interdependence and cooperation. According to liberalism, rejection of power politics is simply the only result of international relations (Burchill et al., 2013). Therefore, instead of perceiving the international system as being innately archaic, liberalistic thoughts presume plenty opportunities for nations working together. Also, liberalism theory is based on an assumption that military power is just one of the power forms but other forms of power such as economic and social matter a lot in the international system. Consequently, liberalism view international organizations like supranational authorities as well as non-governmental organizations including non-profit organizations and businesses as critical actors in international relations.

Likewise, constructivism theory draws from both realism and liberalism. According to constructivists, international relations is a social construction which proceeds past the product of the behaviors of the primary actors (Burchill et al., 2013). Ideally, constructivists assume that international politics is a realm of interaction guided by practices and identities of actors which are further directed by the constantly changing norms. Thus, what motivates the actions and behaviors of nations are shaped by their interactions with other nations and actors.

Another theory proposed to explain international relations is the Marxism. Marxism is based on the economic theory of Karl Marx. This theory argues that when analyzing international relations, the main focus should be economy but not military and social power as suggested in realism and liberalism. According to Marxists, the instability witnessed in the international system emerges from the varying facets of class struggle such as issues related to exploitation of resources by a few members of the society, capitalism, institutionalization of injustice and inequality and uneven distribution of wealth in the society (Burchill et al., 2013).

Functionalism, on the other hand, argues that nations can integrate and cooperate to function better than an individual actor. This is a contemporary theory emerging upon the realization that states or national governments cannot be primary actors in the international system. Specifically, the theory of functionalism emerged during the World War I and World War II and the integration of Europe as a trading block. Integration is a process emanating from the realization of common interests of states. Integrated states function more effectively and efficiently than individual actor.

Another theory of international relations is the English school. It is one of the contemporary theories of international relations that attempt to offer an analysis of international system through the amalgamation of realism and liberalism. It tries to analyze how international relations may be understood through the incorporation of liberalistic cooperative aspect into the conflicted nature of the international system as proposed by realism. Central to the argument, English school theory finds three distinct spheres surrounding international politics. These are; the international society is marked by the institutionalization of identity and interest among nations, the international system characterized by the power of politics among state actors and global society marked by the establishment of world societal arrangements and identities grounded on the participation of non-state organizations, individuals, and the entire global population (Burchill et al., 2013).

Feminism theory comes to criticize the other theories of international relations. Ideally, feminism argues that the rest of the international relations theories have assumed aspects of power, security, and dominion as stemming from a gender biased perspective. The theory proposes the need for understanding the contribution of women in the international relations and recognizing femininity as a group of actors in the international system.

Green theory, as one of the radical theories, analyzes international relations by looking at the environmental cooperation. According to this theory, other theories of international relations are blind on the environment and the ecology which are crucial in shaping the international system. The theory argues that international actors must cooperate in responding to the ecological problems as part of the response to challenges introduced by increased global interdependence and integration.

Given the wide array of international theories, some nations attribute their successful development to the ideas corresponding to a particular framework. For example, the famous emerging economy of China has ascribed to the Marxist ideas and has seen a class of wealth billionaires stimulating economic growth and driving the nation forward towards industrialization. In China, Marxism has been the foundational building block of the nation's development by allowing people to access land, better wages and contribute towards developmental policies that address their needs; on the other hand, made the government accountable to the people by ensuring the attainment of development goals.

Historical Background

Today, most societies are characterized by income inequalities so that there are very rich people as well as extremely poor ones. Perhaps the question that everyone asks himself or herself is why the disparity in income or wealth accumulation and whether it had to be this way or there may be any other manner the society ought to have distributed income amongst members. The same concerns were pondering Karl Marx and his friend Friedrich Engels as early as 1844. Marx and Engels examined the social and economic relations through which members of the society earned their livings and realized that there was a concept known as capitalism behind it. According to Marx, capitalism was an idea whereby the capitalists (few rich) owned the productive resources whereas workers or proletariat must work to earn a living and survive. The capitalists determined the pay for the workers and mist often they offered what could only sustain the worker so that he or she could come back to work the following day. Enormous profits were being retained by the capitalists who continued to be richer as the worker became poorer (Postone & Galambos, 1995).

Marx and Engel resorted to further analyze the complex relationship between the two classes of people; the few rich capitalists and the many poor workers making up the lower class in the society. The analysis resulted in the Marxism theory. Marxism theory is a product of other theories including alienation, the labor theory of value and the materialist conception of history.

Theory of Alienation

In the theory of alienation, Marx sought to answer one complex question about how the various means through which people earn their living impact on their minds, bodies and their entire daily lives. Marx realized that the majority members of the society who make up the workers in industries do not own the means of production such as machines, factories, and raw materials. They only own labor power. Capitalists, on the other hand, own factories, machines and the raw materials required to produce products and services in exchange for money (Postone & Galambos, 1995). To make a living, the workers have to sell their labor power to the capitalists in whose return is wages that can be used for survival by the workers.

At the core of Marx theory of alienation, there are four relations underlying the system of labor displays. The first concept is that the worker is cut off or alienated from his or her productive activity and is unable to decide what to do and how to do it (Postone & Galambos, 1995). Instead, the capitalist decides whether the worker is to be allowed to work or not and even the conditions and speed of work. Capitalist reserves the right to hire and fire the worker. The second concept of the alienation theory is that the worker is cut off from the product of the activity he or she engages in so that there is no control over what is made and how it is used or what happens to it. Ideally, the worker has no idea about what happens to the product once it leaves his or her hands (Postone & Galambos, 1995). Thirdly is that the worker is cut off or alienated from other human beings and the forms of cooperation being replaced by the mutual indifference and competition (Postone & Galambos, 1995). Each individual in the class is struggling to survive, and the relations with one another or colleague fades away. Finally, the worker is alienated from the unique capability of creativity and the community shared by being human. Simply selling their labor to the capitalists alienates the workers of their ability to develop finer qualities they should have own.

A worker who is alienated from the above attributes is seriously diminished, mentally mystified and confused, virtually powerless and isolated and physically weakened (Postone & Galambos, 1995). On the other hand, the product, originally engineered by the worker, leaves their hands, gains value until it comes back to the same worker in the form of bank loan or landlord's house. The newer form of the product is someone else property, and for the worker to access it in its desirable form, he or she has to further alienate the labor power he or she owns. The worker has to remain in the same state and even sell more labor to the capitalist to access services.

Theory of Value

Through the theory of value, Marx wanted to investigate and explain the impact of...