Class Notes 4 You

Intro- Systems approach in IR seeks to analyse international relations as a system of interactions of states which are interdependent and interrelated. It is a product of behavioural revolution in IR Morton A Kaplan.-work- systems and processes in International politics Wanted to build a grand theory of international politics which can explain past, present and future of international politics Most suitable for study of international politics because it requires interdisciplinary approach. Also it is non-normative ,value neutral and free from biases Approach takes international politics as an overarching idea and not as a sum of foreign policies. Critical evaluation by traditionalists like Robert J Lieber: Criticised as model building exercise rather than theory building. Many models are hypothetical Just a general explanation of international politics. No analysis Ignore importance of domestic factors, personality factors do not help in making predictions Stanly Hoffmann- strange ...

Intro: PM Modi: no two countries in the world understand each other so well or share so much as India and Bhutan." Treaty of friendship 1949 that was revised in 2007 forms the basis of relationship of the two nations. Importance- India’s most successful bilateral relationship Chumbi valley Buffer state Contain insurgency in NE Boycotted BRI Cooperation: India is Bhutan’s largest trading partner Recently Modi inaugurated the mangadechhu project of 700MW , Kholongchu 600MW joint venture of India and Bhutan India launched use of Rupay card in Bhutan to improve people to people contacts Acc to UN convention, landlocked countries to be given only 2 ports of access, India has given unlimited access to all ports. India’s continuous contribution in Bhutan's five year plans. India is Bhutan's largest trading partner India’s assistance to Bhutan during Doklam crisis shows India's seriousness for Bhutan's sovereignty. India has proposed to build a road in  Bhutan ’s ‘ Yeti te...

Intro:India and Maldives share ethnic, linguistic, cultural, religious and commercial links steeped in antiquity. India was among the 1st to recognise Maldives after its independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic relations with the country Maldives occupies very special place in the ‘Neighbourhood first’ policy and SAGAR (Security  and growth for all in the region) Context: India’s prompt assistance during 1988 coup attempt lead to development of trust and long-term and friendly bilateral relations with the Maldives. The immediate withdrawal of troops when they were no longer required assuaged fears of any Indian dominance or territorial aspirations India was the 1st to assist Maldives during the 2004 tsunami as well as water crisis in Malé in 2014 Under op NEER, India immediately rushed bottled drinking water to malé using air force and navy. These three incidents in 1988, 2004 and 2014 had established the advantages of India’s proximity and capacity to come to Maldives resc...

Intro-India and Myanmar have cultural,historical,ethnic and religious ties, in addition to sharing a long geographical land border and maritime boundary in the bay of Bengal. Importance of Myanmar- BIMSTEC ASEAN MGC SAARC- observer status Act East- important for connectivity to SE Asia and Development of NE BCIM corridor Stability of north east depends on cooperation with Myanmar Strategic location in the Bay of Bengal Through CMEC , China is trying to overcome its Malacca dilemma IMT highway Kaladan multimodal project issues- India Myanmar have forgotten the habit of seeing each other psychologically as neighbours Deportation of Rohingyas whom Myanmar doesn’t recognise as its citizens Growing Chinese footprint in the nation Insurgents finding safe havens in Myanmar Coup- Army has cited “electoral fraud” as the reason. Myanmar was under military rule from 1961-2011 . In words of Rajiv Bhatia, Myanmar was a car driven by two drivers and now one has ejected the other taking full control ...

Intro: Globalization defined as growing interdependence of the world's economies, cultures, and populations, brought about by cross-border trade in goods and services, technology, and flows of investment, people, and information Those who praise globalization: Kofi Anna- talking against globalization is like talking against gravity . Marshall McLuhan says globalization has made the world a “global village.” Thomas Friedman- Says the world has become flat due to globalization. The Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention was proposed by economist Thomas Friedman as a way of explaining how globalization affects foreign policy and conflict. Essentially, the Theory points out that no two countries that both have McDonald's franchises have ever gone to war. The reasoning behind this correlation, Friedman says, is that once economies become sufficiently integrated, both the cost of going to war and the amount of contact between two countries will increase. Both these factors lead...

Pro tip: Use theories of liberalism when giving way forward for Multilateral institutions liberal institutionalism for UN,WTO,etc India's bilateral relations like interdependence and social liberalism for India china/ India Pak Regional organisations Interdependence , social liberalism for SAARC All liberal approaches are similar to each other, hence when writing about one, link it with other liberal approaches Intro: liberalism in IR refers to an ideology that wants to create a peaceful world through the use of free trade,norms,values and international organisations. First school of intl politics which was dominant from 1991 to 2001 features of liberal international order described in the works of Daniel Deudney and John Ikenberry Rejection of power view of international  politics Cosmopolitan view of international relations in which the world is viewed as a society of people , boundaries become irrelevant and people think of themselves as citizens of this planet and not of a part...

Intro- “Whoever controls the Indian Ocean, dominates Asia. This ocean is the key to the seven seas. In the Twenty – First century, the destiny of the world will be decided on its waters”-Alfred Mahan (on Indian Ocean) Lord Curzon understood that India’s security and greatness were intimately tied to the maritime routes and choke points connecting it to Europe and the Far East. In his words “lose control of these and India would be hostage to its strongest landward neighbor.” 5 pillars of SAGAR- India’s role as a net security provider in the IOR Active engagement with friendly countries in IOR Developing a network to take effective collective action for advancing peace and security in the region Integrated and a cooperative focus for sustainable development of all countries in the region Primary responsibility for peace and stability in IOR will be on those “who live in the region.” PM Modi has highlighted Indian approach to Indian ocean- Deepening economic and security cooperation with...