Studying international relations equips you to tackle global challenges like terrorism, natural disasters and human rights violations from a unique perspective. It’s a multidisciplinary field that explores international political economy, global governance and intercultural relations. Your studies will provide a deeper understanding of how culture, economics and history affect our world, which you can then leverage in your career.
You’ll also develop a deep understanding of the different factors that influence a state and its decisions. One approach is realism, which holds that understanding a state’s decision-making process and the factors shaping it is essential for foreign policy analysis. Other approaches examine psychological factors that may contribute to decisions, such as groupthink and the tendency of policymakers to misperceive events or other states.
Diplomacy is considered the first resort for solving conflicts, but there are other tools as well, such as imposing sanctions or forcing compliance with treaties. These are often the result of a failure to reach a solution through diplomatic channels.
Whether you pursue a career in government or business, it is important to understand the different cultures that make up the world. A language skill set is usually required, and you’ll probably find yourself immersing in another culture as part of your work – something that many find to be an incredibly rewarding experience.
A major benefit of studying international relations is the personal growth that comes along with it. The different backgrounds and perspectives that you will encounter in your career will challenge you to think differently and expand your horizons, which can lead to greater empathy with people from around the world.
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