Core Concepts in International Relations

Sovereignty

Sovereignty means a state has supreme authority over its own territory and people. No outside power can legally interfere in its internal affairs. This is the foundation of the modern international system.
However, sovereignty is often challenged — for example, when the international community intervenes in a country due to human rights violations.

National Interest
Every state acts primarily to protect and promote its own national interest. National interest includes:
Security (protecting the country from attack)
Economic prosperity
Political influence
Preservation of national identity and values

Power
Power is the ability of one actor to make another actor do something it would not otherwise do. In IR, power comes from:
Military strength
Economic wealth
Diplomatic influence
Soft power (culture, education, values)

Anarchy
In IR, anarchy does not mean chaos. It means there is no central world government above all states. Unlike within a country where there is a government and laws, internationally there is no single authority that can force states to follow rules. This makes international relations complex and competitive.