Have you ever wondered about international relationships and how everyone on the planet makes the world go round? Sure, you can be involved in the government of the United States of America, but what about the rest of the world? A career in international relations can be very rewarding and fascinating. Being more informed on a global level can also help you understand how our government works with other countries and their politics. Here are a few facts and information about this important area of government.
What is it?
It’s an understanding and study of how politics and history can affect future decisions of our entire world and its development. By understanding how we all connect through social issues and foreign policies (human rights, climate change, business growth, resources) we can look toward the future and make better decisions that benefit everyone. It’s a study of political patterns and how the decisions of one country can affect another one halfway around the globe.
An Interesting History
A Greek historian named Thucydides is one of the first people to really study international relations. In his book, History of the Peloponnesian War, he studied the links and interactions between Sparta and Athens that led to the famous war. Today it is known as the textbook on international relations, and we can learn a lot from his analysis. It’s true what they say – those who do not learn their history are doomed to repeat it.
A Fascinating Career
While a newer field of study, modern times have made international relations essential to moving forward in a positive productive way. Those pursuing a career will have great fulfillment knowing they are making a large impact on a global level. There are lots of different jobs that are under the umbrella of IR and many avenues to explore based on your area of interest. Everything from Foreign Service, military, United Nations, Security and more, there is something for everyone and it is all important work.
Recognized as a Study
In modern university study, international relations became an academic discipline in Great Britain in 1919. Students can now major in international relations to prepare for their exciting careers. There are multiple ‘theories’ which explain how countries and nations relate to each other. They are known as Realism, Liberalism and Constructivism. It’s quite a fascinating area of study with many factors to consider. If you like history and want to impact future history books, this might be a new major to try out.
International relations are essential to our world growing and functioning as one. With every passing day comes new complications and factors that threaten our existence and we look to those searching for the answers to help us bridge the nations so we are all working towards a common goal.