The complex and interconnected system of international relations and interactions among countries and other global actors
World politics
Is a dynamic and ever-evolving field, shaped by the interactions of the states, non-state actors and the challenging global landscape
Involves the delicate balance of competition and cooperation
Its outcomes have far-reaching effects on the well-being of people around the world
What world politics includes
International relations between states
States' relations with international organizations
States dealing with global issues
International relations between states
The academic field that studies the interactions between countries and the various actors in the international systems
Important international organizations
United Nations
World Trade Organization
International Monetary Fund
Global issues
Climate change
Terrorism
Nuclear proliferation
Pandemics
State sovereignty
The principle that states have exclusive authority and control over their territory and internal affairs
Sovereignty is a fundamental concept in international law and politics
Power and influence
The distribution of power among states is a central feature of world politics
Major powers (US, China, Russia, EU) exert significant influence on global affairs
Key aspects of world politics
Conflict and war
Human rights
Trade and economics
Diplomacy
Bilateral and multilateral relations
Nationalism vs. globalism
Soft power
Conflict and war
Conflicts can arise over territorial disputes, ideological differences, or competition for resources
Armed conflict can have far-reaching consequences and often involve international intervention or mediation
Human rights
The protection of human rights is a significant concern in world politics
International agreements and organizations work to promote and enforce human rights standards globally
Trade and economics
Economic factors play a crucial role in international relations
Trade agreements, economic sanctions, and financial stability are important aspects of global politics
Diplomacy
The practice of conducting negotiations and maintaining relationships between countries
Is essential for resolving conflicts, forging alliances, advancing national interests peacefully
Bilateral and multilateral relations
Countries engage in both interactions to pursue their interests
Multilateral diplomacy occurs through organizations or forums like G7, G20, or regional organizations
Nationalism vs. globalism
The ongoing debate between those who prioritize national interests and sovereignty (nationalists) and those who advocate for greater international cooperation and governance (globalists)
Soft power
The ability of countries to influence others through culture, education, diplomacy rather than military or economic force
Is an important aspect of a nation's global influence
Theories of international relations
Liberalism
Realism
Constructivism
Liberalism
In order to achieve peace, states need to apply democracy, liberal economic structure globally, and the practice of collective security
Realism
Believes the international system is anarchic, with no actor above states, and the primary concern of all states is survival through superiority or balance of power
Constructivism
Focuses on the influence of non-material factors like values, culture, norms, and ideas in shaping actors' identities and interests
Philosophers offer diverse perspectives on topics such as justice, governance, the role of religion in politics, and the relationship between philosophy and Islamic thought
Political thinkers make their ideas available to others, who can criticize them
Why study political science philosophy
Political thought provides the basis for both facts and actions
We cannot take stances without having philosophical ideas
Political thinkers have produced divergent, contradictory, conflicting ideas
People need to think hard of political ideas without such thinking we would not understand these ideas fully
Philosophers
Plato
Aristotle
Confucius
Mencius
Cicero
St. Thomas Aquinas
Niccolò Machiavelli
Thomas Hobbes
Benedict Spinoza
John Locke
Al Farabi
Ibn Sina
Ibn Kaldun
Al Mawardi
Ibn Taymiyyah
Abdolkarim Soroush
Ibn Rushd (Averroes)
Branches of political science
Political Thought
Comparative Politics
International Politics
Public Policy
Comparative politics
The framework of comparative politics is to compare between political structures and functions, as well as political culture
Levels of analysis in comparative politics
Individual
State and nation
International systems
Why study comparative politics
To communicate and understand other countries' cultures, and be more capable in communication
To analyze how governments make decisions and advance positive or normative theses
Comparative politics tools include analyzing graphs and finding small details
Challenges facing states
Building community and identity
Securing economic development and growth
Advancing democracy and civil liberties
Political culture
A set of shared views and normative judgments held by a population regarding its political system, not just attitudes toward specific actors
Political culture (Pye and Verba)
The mental and intellectual environment in which politics is shaped, interpreted, and judged
The knowledge, values, attitudes of individuals and societies towards government and politics
Linked to community, not just individuals
Dimensions of political culture
A set of meanings and definitions used in everyday policymaking
A set of political beliefs, traditions, customs, behaviors, myths, and actions
Common challenges
Building community and identity
Securing economic development and growth
Advancing democracy and civil liberties
Political culture
A set of shared views and normative judgments held by a population regarding its political system
Political culture (Pye and Verba)
The mental and intellectual environment in which politics is shaped, interpreted, judged
Dimensions of political culture
A set of meanings and definitions used in everyday policy making
A set of political beliefs, tradition, custom, behavior, myths and action
Political culture
Defines what is tolerable and which are the sanctions
Defines the borders of social groups
Creates link between individuals and social groups
Generates the demands and wishes of citizens in relation with state and other groups
Requires cultural support and legitimacy for authority and legitimacy
Includes negative behavior and conflicts
Political subculture
Part of political culture that makes participants think and behave differently