International Relations
International Relations
International relations, a branch of political science, is the study of foreign affairs and relations among among states within the international system, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations (IGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and multinational corporations. 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 foreign policy.
Apart from political science, IR draws upon such diverse fields as economics, history, law, philosophy, geography, sociology, anthropology, psychology, and cultural studies. 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, and human rights.
