The study of the complex world of international politics, diplomacy and foreign policy. Students in the Elliott School of International Affairs are exposed to cutting-edge research across a broad range of topics, including foreign policy, international security, global governance, peace and conflict resolution, and more. Students are also given opportunities to develop a deep understanding of the intricate dance of diplomacy in order to better navigate today’s increasingly complicated diplomatic landscape.
The term international relations is generally used to describe the interactions between states and other actors on the world stage. These interactions may include diplomatic initiatives, wars, trade negotiations and other political actions. International relations as a discipline grew out of the recognition that foreign and military matters constituted an important part of all citizens’ lives, and that it was in the public interest for the issues to be studied by professionals. The first specialized graduate degrees in the field were offered in 1922. IR is classified as a major multidiscipline within political science, alongside comparative politics, political methodology and philosophy. It also draws on work from other disciplines, such as economics, history, law and geography. A number of schools of thought have developed within IR, such as realism and liberalism.
A regional group of countries, such as the GCC (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia). The term may also be used to describe an alliance among countries, such as NATO. Often seen as a balancing act to prevent the rise of hegemony by one country over the others.