International relations (IR) is the study of how nations interact with each other globally. This diverse field addresses the relationships between states, and includes such issues as global security, diplomacy, economic policy, cultural interactions and more. The ways in which these countries work together — or in opposition — directly affect our lives. International relations is interconnected with fields such as international development, political science, history and economics.
Realism
The basic theory of realism is that all nations strive to increase their power, so the most successful will thrive. This philosophy emphasizes that a nation’s foremost interest should be self-preservation and that continually hording power is a social, economic and political imperative.
Liberalism
Unlike realism, liberalism argues that variation in what states want explains most of the variation in their behavior. Unlike the narrow aims of realism, this approach emphasizes the importance of human rights and international organizations.
Idealism
The idealist view is the opposite of realism and holds that a country’s foreign policy should reflect its ethical and moral values, such as promoting democracy and human rights. The goal of this school of thought is to encourage other nations to adopt these values in the hope that this will create a more peaceful world.
A regional body of 15 African states that aims to encourage economic cooperation. It is dominated by Nigeria and was founded in 1975. It has deployed peacekeeping troops to conflict zones. It is often seen as a rival to the AU, which is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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