a. International Politics(Political Relations): Since politics is defined according to
Aristotle as who gets what when and how,
then international politics is viewed as those processes which relate to
competition, negotiations and conflicts about which state gets what and on
what terms in the international arena. The end battle of states is power
acquisition and enhancement, ie “power politics” for a generation of political
scientist, the international system is imagined as a cockpit struggle for
power. States take over the international society to attain a rank, prestige
and security. All these are geared towards the survival of a state.
International politics arises when actors meet or exchange note
or by some other
processes, discuss, debate, argue, negotiate or seek accommodations and
compromises with the aim at achieving binding agreement or settlements. For
instance, Nigeria in 1970 defeated Niger Republic (OAU) candidate to secure the
non permanent seat in the Security Council to her favour. In 2009, Nigeria won
South Africa as UN non-permanent Security Council member again, Nigeria won the
leadership of world trade and investment after 60 years of such a position in
Africa under the ministry of Olusegun Aganga, minister of trade and investment
of Nigeria in 2011. Nigeria also
successfully campaigned and won the position of secretary general of the
common-wealth against Malcolm fresher of Canada. International politics also
involves political alliances such as the non- aligned states pressure in the
United Nations and in the common wealth especially the placing of sanctions on
South Africa which culminated in majority rule in South Africa in May, 1994.
however, the cold war politics and détente between the united states and former soviet union
(now common wealth of independent states) played a vital role in alliance built up in the world. Finally, while international relations
comprise all international politics, international politics does not cover all
international relations.
b. International Economic Relations:
One of the basic relationship between states is the improve the
economic well-being of the citizens
and in the end, state power and
international status. These actually
depend on establishment of economic relations with other states. This can be done through international trade,
commerce, transfer of capital and technology, commodity and
payment agreements (currency exchange policy ) and the important relation between poor and rich
states (less developed, developing and
advanced economic or the “north south”
division. This may also involve
states going into economic alliances in what may be regarded as “developmental regionalism”
such as the European union, OPEC, ECOWAS,
to mention but a few. This further involves the contribution and
possible gains from world financial institutions like the IMF and IBRD. The
entry of states into these ties is based on the philosophy of being part of
global economic and financial policy that will be beneficial to the comity of
states. Issues such as undue protectionism, law of the sea, granting of
soft-loans and soft debt repayment format had been carefully presented but not
very successful. The reason is that these economic relations have not been
really beneficial to the less developed states that informed to call a now
international economic order (NIEO). It is partly for this that the Nigerian
government opted for a new foreign economic policy thrust of “Economic
Diplomacy” in 1988.
c. Cultural International Relations: This involves cultural, social and
intellectual relations that link many states and actors. With regard to social,
it means sporting activities such as the Olympic Games. The assumption is that
competitions foster close relationships and peace between states. With regard to culture, it include festivals
that promote peace and unity such as
world black and African Festival of Arts
and Culture (FESTAC) held in won
by Agbaniderigo from Rivers State.
It also comprises intellectual associations such as scientific
conferences and educational exchange programme etc.
d. Private International Relations: These are the interactions between
citizens and group 0f citizens of different nation states. This relation shows
itself as a visitation, commerce etc. government do not get itself involved
really but provide regulatory services
like issuing of pass ports, visas, stamps or foreign exchange for their peaceful
conduct. Apart from the
above four broad sub-fields of international
relations, other sub-field such as strategic studies, international
organization and international law have gained prominence. This is due to the
dynamic nature of the discipline.
Strategic studies is the meeting point of the social sciences and the
humanities. it talks about the issues of military relations among actors such as NATO, the
defunct war saw pact, the bagdad pact, conference on European security,
the ECOMOG as in African sub-region etc.
it also deals with regional studies of
certain strategic zone of the world
and their implications in general. It also deals with insurgency and counter
insurgency movement of armed guerrilla forces intelligence and countries
intelligence e.g. Niger establishing counter terrorism department in 2011 to
counter a group of terrorists known as Boko Haram , Somalia reinsurgency
in Ethiopia and us establishing counter tourism
department to fight against terrorism in the world. Israel /Palestinian insurgencies over west Bank and Gaza, US
war ships sailed and lined at the pacific ocean between India and China, ready to
attack Afghanistan and Pakistan insurgencies on boundary (land ) dispute.