The United Nations, the World Trade Organization, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the European Court of Justice are all examples of international institutions that form a vital part of contemporary international relations. These institutions govern much of the interaction between states at an international system level. They also outlaw some traditional institutions and practices of international relations, such as the use of war (except in self-defense). Other systematic tools of international relations are diplomacy and sanctions.
International Relations Careers
A bachelor's degree in international relations will not grant you a specific profession. Rather, it will provide you with a broad knowledge base suitable for a variety of occupations, such as:
- Archivist
- Demographer
- Diplomat
- Foreign Affairs Analyst
- Foreign Affairs Specialist Foreign Service Officer
- Immigration Specialist
- Intelligence Specialist
- Journalist
- Language Specialist
- Market Research Analyst
- Bachelor's Level Course Work
Studying International Relations
International relations is more than an
education in political science. It is the study of foreign affairs and global issues among states within the international system. This includes the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations (IGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and multinational corporations (MNCs). It is both an academic and public policy field, and can be either positive or normative as it both seeks to analyze as well as formulate the foreign policy of particular states.
A degree in international relations will, apart from political science, most likely include studies in anthropology, business, cultural studies, economics, history, law, psychology and sociology. It involves a diverse range of issues, from globalization and its impacts on societies and state sovereignty to ecological sustainability, nuclear proliferation, nationalism, economic development, terrorism, organized crime, human security, and human rights. This multidisciplinary approach will prepare you for a variety of occupations.
IR as an academic discipline remains centered mainly in the West, although schools dedicated to the study of IR have been founded in Asia and South America.
