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Why study international relations?

The term µInternational relations¶ is used to identify all interactions between state-based
actors across state boundaries; it can immediately be compared with, although it is broader
than, international politics. Undoubtedly, the latter is embodied as one, and certainly one of
the most important, sub-fields of international relations. However, international law, for
example, is part of international relations but not international politics. Law is, after all,
surely in its customary form, created by interactions between state-based actors. Similarly
international economic relations are part of international relations but not international
politics, but this does not mean that political calculations will not intrude into these areas; it
only means that they can be separated for the purposes of analysis (Evans and Newham,
1998: 274)

International relations is therefore, an interdisciplinary and heterogeneous area of study. It

has no unifying methodology because, take with three examples enumerated above,
international economics is an empirical social science, international law is far more
normative than most social sciences while international politics is eclectic, borrowing from a
number of traditions and divided in many minds into a rather unruly flock of activities (Evans
and Newham, 1998: 274).

As a separate field of academic inquiry different from International Law, Political Theory and
Diplomatic History, International Relations effectively began with the establishment of its
first chair at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth (1919). The first general theoretical
perspective was popularly labelled µidealism¶ and was characterized by reliance in progress;
that the international system could be transposed into a fundamentally more peaceful and
righteous world order (Evans and Newham, 1998: 275).

In a world where thousands of nuclear weapons exist and more and more countries are trying
to acquire them, where thousands, even millions of people die each of hunger and where
terrorists are becoming more and more powerful and where people are continuously scared of
terrorist attacks, we need to know all about international relations (Independent, 2010).This is
what makes international relations such an exciting and interesting - not to mention important
- subject to study International relations is a subject with which most of us are already

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familiar, even though it is not taught at school. We can all remember the 9/11 incident and
how the world responded to the whole event. We are already part of international relations
because of the choices we make, such as whether we buy fair trade or fast food; because of
out identities, religion and cultural background, because of the resources we possess, the
place where we live and so on. Put simply, international relations is about war and peace,
conflict and cooperation, wealth and poverty, power and change, and understanding patterns
of behaviour between the actors in the world - from states, to presidents, to corporations
(Independent, 2010).

There is no µideal¶ type of international relations student. Many issues may inspire interest in
international relations. One may have studied politics or citizenship, history, geography, or
sociology for example. You do not need to have the answers to the world's problems, such as
terrorism, nuclear proliferation, debt, climate change, poverty, Aids et cetera. But you may
have a lot of questions. Why is international relations important? Is it all about war? Is it
really about poverty or is it big business? Is the United States all powerful or are other states,
institutions (like the World Bank and the EU), or even ideas political or religious) crucial in
deciding what happens in the world? How should we cope with global issues? Does it really
make a difference to have Angelina Jolie as a United Nations goodwill ambassador? Courses
in international relations look behind the headlines to the key players in world politics, asking
what the important ideas and how can we solve conflict or achieve cooperation. An
application or interview for an international relations degree will give students an opportunity
to demonstrate their curiosity about global affairs (Independent, 2010).

International Relations reveals the world for what it is: peace or war, wealth or poverty,
terrorism or pacifism, and our understanding of these matters is highly important because
consciously or unconsciously, everything that is related to international relations ± world
politics, economy et cetera) has a huge influence on all of us. Trying to understand the IR
theory unveils the worlds¶ history and it¶s most fascinating people and events ± it is history
that leads to the world we are living in today ± whether good or bad. Nations have to
cooperate to solve global issues such as crime, environmental protection, disease, poverty,
human rights et cetera.

International Relations is not just a field of academic study; we all participate in and
contribute to International Relations daily. Whenever we watch the news, vote in an election,
buy or boycott goods from the supermarket, recycle plastic or bottles, we participate in

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International Relations. The ease at which students obtain employment after graduation is to a
great extent dependent on the state of the global economy, and in a globalised economy
graduate jobs are increasingly likely to involve international travel and require an
understanding of the international political and economic environment in which businesses
must operate. Our daily lives are more and more international in their focus; improvements in
communications and transport technology mean we are constantly coming into contact with
people, places, products, opportunities and ideas from other countries. The study of
International Relations enables us to explain why international events occur in the manner in
which they do and gives us a greater understanding of the world in which we live and work
(Lincoln, 2010).

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References

Evans, G and Newnham, J (1998) '
  

   , London: Penguin
Books

Independent (2010) International Relations [available from]

http://www.independent.co.uk/student/magazines/why-international-relations-is-the-key-to-
all-our-futures-409792.html [accessed on18th of March]

Lincoln (2010) International relations [available from]

http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/socialsciences/Internation%20Relations.htm [accessed on 19th of
March]

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