International Relations (IR) explores how governments, states, non-state actors and organisations interact with each other across the world. It’s an ideal major if you’re interested in global political issues and economies, foreign policy, international law, conflict resolution and peacekeeping, as well as other countries and cultures.
The field is interdisciplinary and covers the full spectrum of international affairs, including terrorism and insurgency; regional politics; democratization and transitional justice; international development; and global environment, health and natural resources. Traditionally, IR has included the study of war and conflict; the causes of peaceful change; cooperation and alliances; and the nature of international institutions.
IR has a long tradition of using a variety of theoretical approaches and analytical methods to understand the complexity of contemporary international politics. Some approaches are descriptive, describing what is happening at the local or national level, and others attempt to explain why it is happening.
Some theories focus on the underlying processes and relationships that influence foreign policy decision-making by exploring internal state dynamics such as groupthink or bureaucratic politics. Others take a more structural perspective, examining the balance of power and the distribution of resources in the international system. Some seek to identify the roots of current problems, arguing that economic factors such as resource scarcity drive states to exploit each other or pursue their own interests.
The greater your awareness of the diverse range of international issues and their implications, the more you will be able to deliver solutions that respect people’s needs from different perspectives and cultures. In this way, you can help create a more equitable and sustainable global society.