In an increasingly globalised world, collaborating with people from different cultural backgrounds is vital. This skill can be beneficial in a variety of careers, especially for those involved with diplomacy or international business.
Often described as an interdisciplinary field, international relations encompasses studies in political science, history, geography, economics, and law to understand how nations interact on the global stage. An undergraduate program in international relations can provide a strong foundation for students interested in pursuing graduate degrees in fields like international law or political science.
Theories of international relations are numerous and vary by approach. Realism, for example, emphasizes a country’s form of government in determining its actions. This theory argues that countries with a more democratic system will not go to war with other democracies, as they can depend on their populations for support and will share norms and interests. A variant on this is the balance of power concept, which was popularized in Europe prior to WWI, as well as during the Cold War with Kenneth Waltz’s neorealism.
Constructivism is another perspective that views the international system as socially constructed through ideas, norms, and identities. In contrast to realism, this theory advocates that anarchy is what states make of it and that the structure of state interaction is dependent on a nation’s own values. It is also associated with Marxism, which suggests that the pursuit of profit and resources leads to states exploiting one another.