International politics studies the interactions of states on a global scale. The field draws on diverse methodologies to explore the causes and consequences of war, the dynamics of peacebuilding and the impact of global economic interdependence. Students and professionals interested in international relations (IR) often have a wide variety of career choices.
A key issue is sovereignty. In an era of increased globalisation, sovereign equality is often perceived as a principle that must be upheld by both states and non-state actors. However, a foreign policy based on Western principles and values can easily come across as arrogance or colonialism to other countries.
Power is also an important concept in IR. It can be broadly defined as the degree of a state’s ability to coerce and influence other states. It can be categorised as hard or soft, with hard power relating to coercive capabilities and soft power generally encompassing economics and diplomacy.
Revisionist states – those that feel they are disadvantaged by the international system – tend to oppose the status quo, favouring change. This can be seen in the rise of neo-Marxism and other global movements that argue for the creation of a proletarian world.
The study of IR stretches back to the early 20th century, when US President Woodrow Wilson introduced his Fourteen Points in an attempt to settle post-World War I conflict. This was a significant departure from the prevailing realist school, which advocated for a return to the pre-World War I system of nation-states and an international order based on the ‘billiard ball model’.