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Three Major Theories Of International Relations

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Many international relation scholars use the three main schools of thought, realism, liberalism and constructivism, to understand and analyze states’ behaviors in the international arena. Each of the three theories uniquely explains the reasons behind a state’s behavior in times of peace or during a conflict. Realism is the school of thought that believes that the international system is anarchic and thus the states try to gain material power. On the other hand liberalism focuses on the power of institutions, which are founded on common values and goals of the state, in the international system. The last theory constructivism believes that state goals are a reflection of social norms, values and history of a state. Many scholars today use …show more content…

The states that joined NATO were willing to put their personal state goals aside to cooperate and achieve a goal for the common good; in the case of the Cold War defeating the Soviet threat based on its communist ideologies (Walt, 1998). During the Cold War NATO strengthened the trans-Atlantic relations between the countries while simultaneously deterring the Soviet threat through its various institutions (Webber, 2009). Many of NATO’s members had common economic, political and social values thus the connection between the countries was strong, and I believe that this was a driving factor in the outcome of the Cold War. In the late 1980’s, toward the end of the Cold War, Gorbechuv realized that the Soviet Union’s economy was failing and was unable to keep up with NATO so he created liberal policies that were inline with NATO’s policies and ideologies (Doyle, 1996). These new policies led to even further weakening of the Soviet Union, economically and politically and as a result there were revolutions against the communist governments of many of the Warsaw Pact alliance member (Doyle, 1996). By viewing NATO as an institution, it is clear that NATO was able to win the Cold War because it’s member states believed in achieving a common goal even if it meant giving up on their individual state needs or goals. While the member states of NATO had a strong bond connecting them, the Warsaw pact was an alliance whose member states (civil societies) did not give up on their personal interests for the common

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Although the US’s action is seen to benefit them in most ways, their recognition of the crisis and effort to help should be gone unnoticed. The US seen as a great opposer of the communist regime and throughout history has helped many nation fight for their freedom. They had helped the non-communist Koreans free themselves from their brainwashed Koreans and Afghan people from culture stripping Soviet. At the end pro-democracy nation of the North Atlantic area joined forces as in treat known today as NATO, as mentioned document 4 The author's point of view of this article probably be pro-western; this is shown through the phrase used by the author. Notably________________________ and ______________________ In conclusion, the Soviet Union caused a political divide with the people of Eastern Europe; which lead to a physical division of the European

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From 1945 to 1982, Canada looked to become not only trustworthy trading partners with the U.S, but trustworthy military collaborates with them. With the commencement of the Cold War, both Canada and the United States had to stop, control, and protect the North Atlantic Community from soviet attacks and the spread of communism. A way in which Canada and the United States strengthened their relations during the Cold War was through NATO. Since “The USSR pursued a policy of aggressive military expansion at home and subversion abroad,” the United States and Canada feared Soviets would impose communism on countries such as France, Italy, and Germany. As a result, a military alliance called NATO created between Canada, the United States, Britain,

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When the Cold War ended, the logic of the American system was extended to the larger global system. The system aimed to encourage globalisation, integration and democratisation. The founding of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) are evidence of the attempt to normalise these concepts internationally. Moreover, the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the reaffirmation of American alliances in East Asia also served to consolidate the post-war liberal international system. Nuclear weapons ensured stability within this expanding system by making war between the major states unlikely.

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Next Soviets launched the first intercontinental ballistic missile, and the United States countered by deploying intermediate range missiles in allying European countries. Each country raising the stakes, nudging the other to retaliation in weapon advancements. 2. Describe how differing ideologies led to increased Cold War

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The cold war was mainly a war of thoughts of either being democratic or communistic. We won this because of how we out spent them by spreading democratic ideals which caused them to run out of money. This then lead to the collapsing of the Soviet Union which signaled the end of the cold

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The Cold War a time of political tension between the United States and Russia. The Western and Eastern fronts have different ideologies and since, “The West tended to overate Soviet power and hostility, which created hysteria, NATO was set up as a defense gesture by the Western Powers based on the fear of Russian aggression. In the States, President Truman initiated a document to stop the spread of Communism” (Knudtzon, “Eastern Europe: 1945-1989). The Western front was afraid of the Soviet Union because they were Communists. The democratic countries did not want Communism to spread to their countries and threaten their democracy.

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In that period after World War II the purpose for the Alliance was keeping Sovi-ets down Germany out and US in. ‘Deterring Soviet expansionism, forbidding the revival of nationalist militarism in Europe through a strong North American presence on the continent, and encouraging European political integration’ (A short history of NATO). Moreover, ‘several Western European democracies came together to imple-ment various projects for greater military cooperation and collective defence, includ-ing the creation of the Western Union in 1948, later to become the Western Europe-an Union in 1954. In the end, it was determined that only a truly transatlantic se-curity agreement could deter Soviet aggression while simultaneously preventing the revival of European militarism and laying the groundwork for political integration’ (A short history of NATO).

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Nations like the middle east, Afghanistan, and Africa were greatly affected. These conflicting ideologies are main factors that led to the cold war, which destroyed many economies and nations, cost many lives, and the suffering of middle eastern countries. Both the United States and Soviet Union thought their ideologies and political views were the best solution for Europe and the rest of the world. The

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Western Europe had been devastated by World War II: shortages of fuel, food and industrial capital goods, a drastic drop in foreign trade and the threat of inflation meant the region was in a fragile economic and political position. In this context, increased political and economic cooperation were deemed necessary in order to reconstruct a Europe ravaged by war – which led to the creation of several international organisations (many of which are still operative today). “The US began to change its policy towards the USSR in 1946–47 as its perception of the USSR’s intentions and reliability as a post-war partner who would adhere to agreements was re-evaluated” (Dedman, 2010). The Marshall Plan (1947) was set in motion by the US in order to prevent

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NATO was developed by the United States, Canada, and several other Western European Nations who signed the treaty on April 4th, 1949 in Washington, D.C. The U.S. mission to the North Atlantic

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In an asymmetrical alliance, an alliance in which there is a large difference in the relative power of its members, the desire for control tends to drive the actions of the greater power. The subordinate member, meanwhile, seeks to maintain the benefits it receives from the larger partner while gaining some say in the actions of the alliance as well. Although surrendering some freedom of action is generally a requisite condition for the subordinate partner, the less powerful nation will attempt to use any leverage it can find to maintain as much freedom of action as possible. These goals are apparent in the NATO alliance, both during and after the Cold War, in the actions of both the greater power (the United States) and the lesser powers (the

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The Warsaw pact was made to protect every member in the pact. It was called on the members that if any member was attacked by an outside force the other members would come to the defence and set up a unified military command. Chief in Command would be Marshal Ivan S. Konev of the Soviet Union. On May, 1955 the United States and the other members if the North Atlantic Treaty Organization made the decision to make West Germany a member of NATO and let them remilitarize. The Soviet Union saw this action as a direct threat and created the Warsaw Pact.

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The current work is meant to explain the differences and similarities between the most dominant theories in international relations, Realism and Liberalism, both theories have some similarities and differences but much more important and interesting is to discuss and explain what differs and makes similar both theories. Conflicts and wars, Similarities and differences between Realism and Liberalism: Both Liberalism and Realism believes that there is no world government that can prevent countries to go to war on one another. For both theories military power is important and both Realism and Liberalism can understand that countries can use military power to get what they need or want. Also, both theories are conscious that without military

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