PS 230 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Non-Interventionism

• School: University of Kentucky
• Department: Political Science
• Course: PS 230
• Professor: Daniel Morey

Document Summary

Politics is the study of the use of power. International relations is politics is the absence of a common sovereign. International relations focuses on external policies among the units of the world (states). The un has very limited rights to violence and must confer with the states before making decisions. The international system is in a state of anarchy, because there is no higher authority. Anarchy does not (necessarily) mean chaos or violence. It also does not mean that there are no rules. Sometimes there are rules in an anarchy, they just can"t be enforced. A good example of an anarchy is a classroom before a professor walks in. There is no authority, every student is equal. Students respect the first come, first serve rule with seats without a governing body to enforce this rule. Elements of a state: you must have a political organization (government), you must have territory (check out israel throughout history.