International relations as a field of study and
approaches are so wide. The complexity and scope of the field has created a
problematic and an unacceptable definition, not only from the idealist but also
from the realist. While some view it as relations between individuals across
national boundaries, some see it as “relation between powerful groups” and
contend that power is the main issue between states. To stem this raging
controversy, the author proposes an operational definition that covers these
varying but relevant views of the discipline.
From the foregoing,
international relations connotes the sum total of relations that take
place among actors across national boundaries or the international system, in
other words, it is the body of knowledge which we have form those relations at
any particular point is not restricted to individual states; for colonies, protectorates, liberation
movements and inter- governmental organizations such as the UN, OAU,
ECOWAS, E.E.C , the Arab league,
NATO, political parties, churches,
Ethnic unions etc possess
extra-ordinary status.
International Relations are not a
single subject or discipline but a bundle of subjects viewed from a common
angle. In other words, it is an inter-disciplinary field consisting political
science, economics, history, sociology, anthropology psychology, culture and
law. These relations are carried out by
what is called international Actors which include the political leaders of
states, ambassadors, international institutions, trans-national corporations
and other private individuals of international repute. Examples of such
individuals are General Obasanjo, president
Goodluck Jonathan, Group of
eminent persons (GEP) on South Africa, chief MKO Abiola, chairman Group
of 15
etc. sub-field in international
relations.
The complex nature of
international relations states that the field is not a one-way study and
that there are many issues that should be fragmented for full observation,
study and analysis. This is without prejudice to the fact that they inter-wove
along the line. In other words, there are different areas of specialization not
just for academics but also in government.
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.