International relations is the study of the interactions between states and non-state actors. It is an increasingly relevant field as we become more interconnected through trade, migration, social media and concerns about global environmental problems. International relations studies address a range of topics including foreign policy, political economy, diplomacy, global governance and security.
The field of international relations has its roots in a concept of sovereignty, first described by Jean Bodin in his Six Books of the Commonwealth in 1576. Sovereignty is the idea that a sovereign power has ultimate authority over its territory and therefore must act in its best interests, with regard to other states. In practice, this has often entailed war between rival countries and the use of coercive military power.
While there are many theories of international relations, they generally fall into one of three broad schools: realism, liberalism and constructivism. Each of these focuses on different assumptions about the nature of the world and international politics and have led to different policies and practices.
Careers in international relations can involve communicating with government officials, organization leaders and staff as well as the public. This requires excellent communication skills, particularly in face-to-face conversations. It also involves being able to convey complex ideas in a clear and concise manner through written documents or presentations. Finally, international relations workers must be able to work well in a team. This is essential in the modern world where issues like climate change, terrorism and economic competition require collaborative solutions.
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