Students in international relations (IR) study the world’s political, economic and social systems in a global context. They examine how these systems interact with one another and are influenced by many factors, including power shifts, environmental changes, and the rise of non-state actors.
IR is closely linked to other subjects such as politics, history, law and economics. It is also often seen as part of the larger multidiscipline field of political science, with its own departments in some institutions. It can be studied on its own or in conjunction with other disciplines, and there are a variety of different theoretical frameworks that you can use to analyse the field. These include realism, liberalism and constructivism.
One of the reasons why studying IR is so useful is because it equips you with the skills to understand how a variety of issues interact. As the world becomes more interconnected, it is important to have this understanding in order to manage the impact of global challenges on nations and their citizens.
The field of IR is particularly relevant in the face of current global challenges such as climate change, global health, terrorism and migration. These are issues that cannot be dealt with by individual countries working in isolation, but need to be addressed through collaborative approaches and innovative diplomacy.
The emergence of the field of IR is also linked to the desire for more peaceful and less violent ways of conducting international affairs. This was reflected in a growing acceptance of the need for more systematic observation and inquiry and a recognition that knowledge could be used to improve human lives.