International Relations Key Dates & People

Treaty of Westphalia

1648 -

Established sovereignty of nation-states; foundational to modern IR.

UN Charter

1945 -

Created the United Nations; promotes peace, human rights, cooperation.

NATO

1949 -

Collective defense among Western nations.

Vietnam War

1965

Hans Morgenthau

Realism - classical realism; politics governed by self interest and power

John Mearsheimer

Realism - offensive realism; states seek regional hegemony

Alexander Wendt

Constructivism - ‘Anarchy is what states make of it’ - identity matters

Robert Keohane

liberalism - Neoliberal institutionalism; institutions mitigate anarchy

Joseph Nye

Liberalism - soft power, complex interdependence

Charles Kindleberger

Liberalism/institutionalism - Hegemonic stability theory; strong powers stablise global economy

Stanley Hoffman

(1928 - 2015) Realism and Liberal internationalism - the role of domestic factors in foreign policy and the interplay between international and national politics.

Max Weber

(1864 - 1920) Foundations of constructivism - stressing the importance of ideas, values, and social meaning in shaping institutions and political behaviour.