A global approach to the study of foreign policy, international relations focuses on how governments and people around the world interact. It considers the complex issues nations face in a globalised world, such as climate change, terrorism and pandemics, that transcend national borders and require coordinated responses. The field is informed by a wide range of theories, including realism, liberalism and constructivism.
The theory that states are socially constructed, meaning their identities, roles and systems of norms are created and reproduced through interaction with each other. This is a counterpoint to realism, which asserts that the anarchic structure of the international system results from the fundamental incompatibility of different national interests.
The belief that a country with a large supply of natural resources is more powerful than a less-rich state, and should therefore be allowed to exploit them. A controversial theory of conflict prevention, since it encourages a winner-takes-all approach to resource exploitation and is often used as a justification for war.
The sub-unit level of analysis is an important aspect of international relations, as it allows for more detailed explanations of particular political and economic phenomena. Examples include Democratic Peace theory, which suggests that democracy limits war by allowing states to externalise their norms and promote international peace, and the theory of sub-national politics as a means of understanding issues like ethnic war and secession. It can also provide a useful framework for considering the relationship between a state and its diaspora, transnational NGOs or non-state actors in general.