"International Relations (IR) are the interactions among sovereign states."
The study of interactions between nations and the factors that influence their relationships, including diplomacy and foreign policy.
International institutions: This topic covers international organizations like the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and World Trade Organization. It also includes regional organizations like the European Union, African Union, and ASEAN.
Levels of analysis: This is an important topic for theoretical approaches to international relations. It encompasses three levels of analysis: individual, domestic, and international.
Realism: This theoretical approach states that the international system is anarchic, and that the primary goal of states is to survive. Realism focuses on power and security.
Liberalism: Liberalism emphasizes cooperation and interdependence, as well as the importance of international institutions in regulating state behavior.
Constructivism: This theoretical approach argues that the social, cultural, and historical contexts of state behavior are important factors in determining foreign policy.
Foreign policy decision-making: This topic includes how states make decisions about foreign policy, the actors involved, and the various factors that influence decision-making.
Globalization: This topic covers the increasing interconnections between states, economies, cultures, and people across the world.
Conflict and cooperation: This involves examining the different types of conflict and cooperation that occur between states, as well as the potential for cooperation to resolve conflicts.
International law: This topic covers the legal framework that governs relations between states, including treaties, conventions, and customary international law.
Diplomacy: This involves the art of negotiation, mediation, and communication between states to achieve common goals and resolve conflict.
National security: This topic covers the measures and policies adopted by states to safeguard their sovereignty and protect their citizens from external threats.
Soft power: This involves the use of non-coercive means such as cultural, economic, and ideological influence to achieve foreign policy objectives.
Human rights: This topic encompasses the universal rights and freedoms that all human beings are entitled to by virtue of their humanity, and how they relate to foreign policy.
Development: This topic covers the efforts by states, international organizations, and civil society to promote economic growth, poverty reduction, and sustainable development in the global South.
Global governance: This topic examines the mechanisms, norms, and institutions that govern international relations and global issues like climate change, nuclear proliferation, and pandemics.
Political ideologies and foreign policy: This topic covers how political ideologies like communism, liberal democracy, and fascism impact a state's foreign policy.
Strategic studies: This involves the analysis of military strategy and the relationship between military power and foreign policy.
International political economy: This topic covers the intersection of politics and economics in the global arena, including trade, finance, development, and the role of multinational corporations.
International security studies: This involves the analysis of traditional and non-traditional security threats, including terrorism, cyber-warfare, and environmental degradation.
Diplomatic history: This studies the historical events and relationships between different states and how they influenced foreign policy decision-making.
Bilateral Relations: The relationship between two countries, which can be friendly, hostile, or neutral.
Multilateral Relations: The relationship between multiple countries or organizations to address specific global issues or challenges.
Regional Relations: The relationship between countries within a particular geographical region, such as Asia or Europe.
Economic Relations: The trade, investment, and financial relations between countries, which can include monetary agreements, tariffs, or subsidies.
Military Relations: The relationship between countries concerning defense, arms deals, or alliances.
Cultural Relations: The relationship between countries involving shared culture, arts, language, or heritage.
Diplomatic Relations: The formal relationship between countries involving consulates, embassies, and diplomatic missions.
Environmental Relations: The relationship between countries concerning global environmental issues such as climate change, natural resource management, and conservation.
Humanitarian Relations: The relationship between countries concerning aid, development, and disaster relief, in response to specific events or circumstances.
Science and Technology Relations: The relationship between countries concerning research and development or technological cooperation on shared projects.
"It concerns all activities among states—such as war, diplomacy, trade, and foreign policy—as well as relations with and among other international actors."
"Other international actors, such as intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs), international legal bodies, and multinational corporations (MNCs)."
"There are several schools of thought within IR, of which the most prominent are realism, liberalism, and constructivism."
"International relations is widely classified as a major subdiscipline of political science."
"It also often draws heavily from other fields, including anthropology, economics, geography, law, philosophy, sociology, and history."
"International relations did not become a discrete field until 1919."
"...first offered as an undergraduate major by Aberystwyth University in the United Kingdom."
"...in response to the geostrategic concerns of the Cold War."
"The collapse of the Soviet Union and subsequent rise of globalization in the late 20th century."
"The scientific study of those interactions is called international studies, international politics, or international affairs."
"The collapse of the Soviet Union and subsequent rise of globalization."
"Itergovernmental organizations (IGOs), international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs), international legal bodies, and multinational corporations (MNCs)."
"...such as war, diplomacy, trade, and foreign policy."
"...particularly in North America and Western Europe."
"International relations is widely classified as a major subdiscipline of political science."
"...geostrategic concerns of the Cold War."
"It also often draws heavily from other fields, including anthropology, economics, geography, law, philosophy, sociology, and history."
"The collapse of the Soviet Union and subsequent rise of globalization."
"...war, diplomacy, trade, and foreign policy."