What is Politics and International Relations?

What is Politics and International Relations in a simple and straightforward way?

Politics, or political science, is all about understanding how countries are run. It looks at things like government policies, political systems, and the role of politicians. A key part of politics is understanding power – who has it, how they use it, and what they achieve with it. Power is still a hotly debated topic today.

Studying politics helps you get a clearer picture of how countries work. You learn about different aspects of society and how they interact, like conflict and cooperation, in an ever-changing world. It is a career that certainly deserves its merit and the attention.

When you study politics, you can choose to focus on big ideas (theories) that guide the actions of different countries, or you can look at how these ideas are used in real life by current governments. Both are important, just as history and theory is important in Sciences, so it is the case in international relations and politics.

Again, Politics isn't just about theories alone; it's also about real-world impacts. It involves looking at how different areas like economics, law, history, and public relations come together to influence government actions. Government exists on multiple levels and sizes, meaning that how we govern and organise ourselves is quite complex.

International Relations: Looking at the World Stage

While political science is mostly about how one country is governed, international relations is about how countries interact with each other. It’s about partnerships between countries, and how these affect the countries themselves and the world.

In international relations, you explore two main ideas: cooperation (working together) and conflict (disagreements or fights). You learn about things like how countries make foreign policies, deal with ethnic groups, build up their militaries, and get involved in humanitarian work. You also look at how problems in one country can affect other places around the world.

International relations encompasses a broad range of influential organizations beyond the United Nations and the World Bank. Each plays a unique role in shaping global dynamics:

• Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) provides critical medical aid in conflict zones and areas affected by disease, natural disasters, and lack of health care.

• Amnesty International advocates for human rights, focusing on issues like political imprisonment, freedom of expression, and rights of marginalized communities.

• The International Committee of the Red Cross works in conflict zones to provide humanitarian aid and promote the laws of war.

• The World Health Organization plays a key role in global health responses, tackling pandemics and promoting health and well-being worldwide.

• UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) focuses on education, science, and culture, promoting peace and security through international collaboration.

• NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is a military alliance, which impacts international relations through its collective defense agreements.

• ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) promotes political and economic cooperation and regional stability in Southeast Asia.

• Oxfam is an international confederation working worldwide to combat poverty and injustice.

• The World Trade Organization regulates international trade, setting the legal ground rules for global commerce.

Each of these organizations contributes to the fabric of international relations through their specialized focus areas, affecting how nations interact, cooperate, and confront challenges.