LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY
LAGOS, NIGERIA
COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS
GENERAL OVERVIEW
International Relations didn’t come up until 1648 in Germany. It is a eccentric view that focuses
on Europe. The world then was controlled by the pope. The pope determined who was King in
Europe. The ruler in France objected to the superior power of the pope and decided to change
the doctrines. The Bible was primarily in Latin and Greek. The hierarchy was based on religion.
In 1414, there were series of war this led to the removal of the pope. The pope eventually died
in jail in Avignon.
In 1414 – 1648, there were lots of wars, that led to some of the Countries in Europe coming
together to form an agreement. In Westphalia (Germany), there was a Treaty formed to decide
to have a Nation State. Some of the features of the treaty, as outlined were;
State became clearly defined
The issue of sovereignty also came up
The birth of diplomacy.
In late 1780s’ – 1812, there was the Napoleonic wars which eventually led to the death of
Napoleon. Before he died, he was arrested and they took him to an Island where he promised
not to make trouble. After some years, he was released but he continued his many atrocities.
He was later re-arrested at Waterloo where he died in jail.
In 1492, the Portuguese were the first settlers in Benin (Nigeria). They came as business men
with clothes and Gunpowder and took away with them spices and natural crops. The
partitioning of Africa was formed in Berlin (Germany) in the 1820s’.
, In 1992, the League of Nations was formed, which was the fore-runner to America, whereby
arising conflicts can be settled amicably. The parliament decided against America being a part
of the League of Nations and Woodrow Wilson was the President of America between 1922 –
1939. There was peace in the world until Adolf Hitler came along and said his country is
superior to every other country. He started a war by taking down all other countries. He made a
mistake and went into Russia, where he was caught.
In 1942, the Americans became involved in the war when they were attacked by the Japan in
Pearl Harbour. In 1945, the Nuclear Bomb was manufactured by a German called Robert
Oppenheimer.
There are about 214 countries in the United Nations when the League of Nation collapsed. The
Americans had the martial plans where billions of dollars was given to Europe to help them in
repairing the damages the war caused.
The permanent five; USA, China, Britain, Russia and France have the power of Veto that cannot
be endorsed under the United Nations.
INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATION
Internatonal relations mean the totality of relations among Nation States in International
environment. How they relate among themselves. International relations can be studied under
two disciplines;
International relations as an Art
International relations as an Academic endeavour.
Nation-Sate means a group of people occupying a definite territory and are politically
organized.
Attributes of a Sate
Population
Territory
Political government
International relation as art evolved when people began to occupy a definite territory and
established a definite government. There is every tendency that co-operation must exist among
the neighbouring countries.
The study of International relations as an academic pursuit is an autonomous discipline. It
began in 1914 during WWI from 1914 – 1918. Before this time, it was studied under political
science and diplomatic history. It then emerged as an autonomous discipline because of the
outbreak of WWI.
LAGOS, NIGERIA
COURSE: INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL
RELATIONS
GENERAL OVERVIEW
International Relations didn’t come up until 1648 in Germany. It is a eccentric view that focuses
on Europe. The world then was controlled by the pope. The pope determined who was King in
Europe. The ruler in France objected to the superior power of the pope and decided to change
the doctrines. The Bible was primarily in Latin and Greek. The hierarchy was based on religion.
In 1414, there were series of war this led to the removal of the pope. The pope eventually died
in jail in Avignon.
In 1414 – 1648, there were lots of wars, that led to some of the Countries in Europe coming
together to form an agreement. In Westphalia (Germany), there was a Treaty formed to decide
to have a Nation State. Some of the features of the treaty, as outlined were;
State became clearly defined
The issue of sovereignty also came up
The birth of diplomacy.
In late 1780s’ – 1812, there was the Napoleonic wars which eventually led to the death of
Napoleon. Before he died, he was arrested and they took him to an Island where he promised
not to make trouble. After some years, he was released but he continued his many atrocities.
He was later re-arrested at Waterloo where he died in jail.
In 1492, the Portuguese were the first settlers in Benin (Nigeria). They came as business men
with clothes and Gunpowder and took away with them spices and natural crops. The
partitioning of Africa was formed in Berlin (Germany) in the 1820s’.
, In 1992, the League of Nations was formed, which was the fore-runner to America, whereby
arising conflicts can be settled amicably. The parliament decided against America being a part
of the League of Nations and Woodrow Wilson was the President of America between 1922 –
1939. There was peace in the world until Adolf Hitler came along and said his country is
superior to every other country. He started a war by taking down all other countries. He made a
mistake and went into Russia, where he was caught.
In 1942, the Americans became involved in the war when they were attacked by the Japan in
Pearl Harbour. In 1945, the Nuclear Bomb was manufactured by a German called Robert
Oppenheimer.
There are about 214 countries in the United Nations when the League of Nation collapsed. The
Americans had the martial plans where billions of dollars was given to Europe to help them in
repairing the damages the war caused.
The permanent five; USA, China, Britain, Russia and France have the power of Veto that cannot
be endorsed under the United Nations.
INTRODUCTION TO INTERNATIONAL RELATION
Internatonal relations mean the totality of relations among Nation States in International
environment. How they relate among themselves. International relations can be studied under
two disciplines;
International relations as an Art
International relations as an Academic endeavour.
Nation-Sate means a group of people occupying a definite territory and are politically
organized.
Attributes of a Sate
Population
Territory
Political government
International relation as art evolved when people began to occupy a definite territory and
established a definite government. There is every tendency that co-operation must exist among
the neighbouring countries.
The study of International relations as an academic pursuit is an autonomous discipline. It
began in 1914 during WWI from 1914 – 1918. Before this time, it was studied under political
science and diplomatic history. It then emerged as an autonomous discipline because of the
outbreak of WWI.
