Explanatory Theories Of International Relations Theory

) Outline the major schools of thought and their respective concepts. Which do you find most compelling as an explanatory framework for analyzing conflicts and global responses and why? Provide illustrations.

Introduction

International Relations (IR) theories are useful because they can provide a simplifying lens for looking at complicated global phenomena, which can help us predict what is to come in the future. IR theories are important because their uses go much further than simply academia. They shape and frame the thinking and understanding of foreign policy makers and governments, who translate these ideas into global actions like conflicts and global responses. They use IR theories to make decisions, distinguish themselves, and to articulate

It also provides a discussion on a compounded explanatory framework for analyzing conflicts and global responses. The first section of the paper describes the theoretical frameworks of realism, liberalism, constructivism and critical theories, in relation to conflict in international affairs. The second section of this paper criticizes the choice of using one theory to analyze international conflict, and from this explains a compounded theory that is inclusive of all the previously mentioned schools of thought. The main idea here is that different international relations theories should be looked at as complimentary, and each as a representative sample of the minds that make up the international system. By combining multiple theoretical standpoints of observation, the weaknesses, biases and problems that arise out of the use of a single theoretical perspective can be overcome. Rather than perceiving IR theories as dueling theoretical perceptions of what is and ought to be the future of the international order, IR theories should be considered in tandem when making sense of global phenomena. Using a single mode of descriptions and response would be unwise with so many options available for triangulation. For this reason it seems that the best analytical framework is one that considers the insight of all

For liberals, economic interdependence - sometimes referred to as capitalist peace theory - is believed to discourage state conflicts by affecting the material power of both states. Second, democratic peace theory, or the belief that democratic states are inherently more peaceful than those governed by authoritarian regimes is also an important facet of liberal IR theory. Not only does this imply that democracies are inherently more peaceful than other types of regime, but also that the accountability placed on leaders in democratic systems will entice them to not enter conflicts. Liberal theorists for the most part do not condone violence, but it is important to note that they do support the use of force to prevent the violation of fundamental human rights. This type of intervention is seen as legitimate to liberals because the force is enacted (or resolved) through collectively formed international institutions, like the United