01 Intro
International Relations¶
The study of what governs international peace and conflict
International relations is not about morals, it's about survival.
Why Learn IR¶
Why not just learn about internal affairs of a country? To see the global picture, we have to see the relations b/w countries
Stages of Political Relations¶
For a country to have relations with another country
- recognize the other 'state'
- treaty
-
trade with them
if you trade, then you don't go to war because
- you are dependent on each other
- help each other out
Unipolar vs Bipolar world¶
Which is better? 🤔
Realists say that bipolar world is the most stable, and unipolar is least stable
Afghanistan¶
Why is it important
- Geopolitical
- Resources
- Terrorism
- Instability of the State
- Global Power Balance
- Refugees
- Democracy/Liberacy/Women's Rights
US¶
military
economics
US in Afghanistan¶
Afghanistan was initially dependent on the soviets. But US did not like that. Hence, it supported the Mujahidin guerillas to overthrow the govt. Then the govt was unstable and the values were against the US; then 9/11 happened. Then, the US went to intervene. I feel like US just went there to exploit the opium resources of Afghanistan
Failure in Afghanistan¶
it highlights America's decline
Now, everyone's opinion of US will go down because they just spent 10-15yrs in a war (which wasn't even theirs), used up so much resources, failed and came back; and within a few weeks or so, the Taliban takes over.