The study of international relations (IR) examines how different global actors interact and influences politics, economics and culture. It’s a wide-ranging academic field that relates to other areas like anthropology, geography, history, law, sociology and philosophy. There are various schools of thought within IR, including realism, liberalism and constructivism.
A key concept in IR is the international system, which refers to the set of relationships between nations and non-state actors like organisations, corporations and individuals. These relationships are what make up the world that we live in, and IR is all about understanding how they work and why they do what they do.
There are many career options for a graduate with a degree in international relations, from diplomacy to security and intelligence. Often, these careers involve working with government officials, organisation leaders and staff and the public, so it’s important for them to have strong communication skills. This includes face-to-face conversations and the ability to convey ideas clearly in writing.
A common career path for an IR graduate is to become a diplomat, where they can help bring people together across borders and address issues like natural disasters, human rights and world hunger. They can also choose to focus on a particular region or issue in their work. Alternatively, they may take on a research-based role in universities or become an international business leader. In these roles, they must be flexible and willing to adapt to changing circumstances in the workplace.