05
International Relations
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,We will now look at some definitions on International Relations.
Definitions on International Relations
I. International Relations mean all types of relations that exist among nations.
II. State level relationships are maintained by officers authorized by the state.
Accordingly, international relations mean the relationship that exist between
two or more countries or, if not between states or international organizations or
between states and persons. You can easily understand this idea by looking at the
following illustration.
State State
State Non - State
Non - State Non - State
Person Person
Diagram 5.1
124 For free distribution F
,Importance of International Relations
Mutual relationships that exist between two or more states or else between
states and organizations or if not between states and persons are identified as
international relations. These relationships can prevail between states and states
and also between states and various organizations, or between states and other
organizations or with persons. Let’s now look at the reasons for maintaining
relationships of this form.
They are,
1. Obtaining something which the country by itself cannot fulfil.
As stated above, isolation that prevailed among countries disappeared due
to factors like the increasing rate of growth of the population and the complexity
of human needs. As a result, no country is able to satisfy all their needs by the
resources existing in their own countries. Since resources available in countries
differed from one country to another goods and services produced by using
those resources also differed. Hence, the world community realized the fact that
development of internatiional relationship is beneficial for a country to sell its
excess production and also to obtain the goods that are scarce in that country.
2. Ability to expand relationships on political, economic, cultural and social grounds.
Almost all the countries in the world, differ more or less on political,
economic, cultural and social grounds. There are favourable as well as
unfavourable effects of this but international relations are important in order to
develop favourable effects further. How does this support favourable effects? As
an example, India and Sri Lanka had developed international relations several
thousands of years ago.
In the same manner, many countries in the world develop relations based on
political, economic, cultural and social factors. The relations that had developed in
the past in this way have been developing gradually up to now and we can see that
it helped to develop mutual friendships among countries.
For free distribution 125
, 3. Protection from the influences exerted by powerful countries
Modern countries in the world have become powerful on the basis of
factors like economic and military powers. Specially, economically strong and
militarily powerful countries put pressure on relatively less powerful countries
in various ways. This situation developed after these countries were liberated
from Colonialism. Powerful countries put preassure on them politically by means
of giving loans and aids, providing weapons and other military assistance in civ-
il wars. Development of international relations of less powerful countries to a
certain extent helped to protect themselves from threats posed on them by the
powerful countries. If that does not happen less powerful countries may become
a victim of powerful countries in the international community.
4. Prevention of obstacles caused by protectionist policies
We can observe now that many countries of the world follow protectionist
policies, in their economic activities, for example, purchasing of garment on the basis
of quotas, imposition of a guaranteed price through various agreements can be stated.
Activity 5.1
²² Define international relations briefly and explain the importance of it.
Main aspects of maintaining international relations
You know that international relations are the relationships that take place
between countries in almost every field such as political, social, and cultural spheres.
By now you have also studied the importance of maintaining those relations.
Next, it is important to pay attention to the main aspects of international relations.
We can identify two main aspects of maintaining international relations. They are:
1. State strategic relations
2. Military strategic relations
126 For free distribution F
International Relations
For free distribution 123
,We will now look at some definitions on International Relations.
Definitions on International Relations
I. International Relations mean all types of relations that exist among nations.
II. State level relationships are maintained by officers authorized by the state.
Accordingly, international relations mean the relationship that exist between
two or more countries or, if not between states or international organizations or
between states and persons. You can easily understand this idea by looking at the
following illustration.
State State
State Non - State
Non - State Non - State
Person Person
Diagram 5.1
124 For free distribution F
,Importance of International Relations
Mutual relationships that exist between two or more states or else between
states and organizations or if not between states and persons are identified as
international relations. These relationships can prevail between states and states
and also between states and various organizations, or between states and other
organizations or with persons. Let’s now look at the reasons for maintaining
relationships of this form.
They are,
1. Obtaining something which the country by itself cannot fulfil.
As stated above, isolation that prevailed among countries disappeared due
to factors like the increasing rate of growth of the population and the complexity
of human needs. As a result, no country is able to satisfy all their needs by the
resources existing in their own countries. Since resources available in countries
differed from one country to another goods and services produced by using
those resources also differed. Hence, the world community realized the fact that
development of internatiional relationship is beneficial for a country to sell its
excess production and also to obtain the goods that are scarce in that country.
2. Ability to expand relationships on political, economic, cultural and social grounds.
Almost all the countries in the world, differ more or less on political,
economic, cultural and social grounds. There are favourable as well as
unfavourable effects of this but international relations are important in order to
develop favourable effects further. How does this support favourable effects? As
an example, India and Sri Lanka had developed international relations several
thousands of years ago.
In the same manner, many countries in the world develop relations based on
political, economic, cultural and social factors. The relations that had developed in
the past in this way have been developing gradually up to now and we can see that
it helped to develop mutual friendships among countries.
For free distribution 125
, 3. Protection from the influences exerted by powerful countries
Modern countries in the world have become powerful on the basis of
factors like economic and military powers. Specially, economically strong and
militarily powerful countries put pressure on relatively less powerful countries
in various ways. This situation developed after these countries were liberated
from Colonialism. Powerful countries put preassure on them politically by means
of giving loans and aids, providing weapons and other military assistance in civ-
il wars. Development of international relations of less powerful countries to a
certain extent helped to protect themselves from threats posed on them by the
powerful countries. If that does not happen less powerful countries may become
a victim of powerful countries in the international community.
4. Prevention of obstacles caused by protectionist policies
We can observe now that many countries of the world follow protectionist
policies, in their economic activities, for example, purchasing of garment on the basis
of quotas, imposition of a guaranteed price through various agreements can be stated.
Activity 5.1
²² Define international relations briefly and explain the importance of it.
Main aspects of maintaining international relations
You know that international relations are the relationships that take place
between countries in almost every field such as political, social, and cultural spheres.
By now you have also studied the importance of maintaining those relations.
Next, it is important to pay attention to the main aspects of international relations.
We can identify two main aspects of maintaining international relations. They are:
1. State strategic relations
2. Military strategic relations
126 For free distribution F
