Generally speaking, international relations encompasses all relations between sovereign units of any kind—not just states, but multinational corporations, international institutions and even non-governmental organizations. The study of international relations examines how all of these entities interact and how they shape the world’s political, economic, cultural and social landscapes.
Like all academic disciplines, international relations has developed its own body of literature and subject matter since it emerged as a specialized field after World War I. The discipline also has grown into a multidisciplinary one, drawing from other areas such as history, sociology, geography and law.
A core concern in modern international relations is the role of international institutions—organizations like the United Nations, NATO and the European Union that facilitate global peace and prosperity by creating laws, enforcing those laws and arbitrating disputes, among other things. The emergence of these institutions has led to a significant shift in understanding the international system. Once seen as a balance-of-powers system, the world now has a multipolar order divided into Western (capitalist and democratic) and Eastern (communist and authoritarian) blocs—with overlapping security arrangements including nuclear arms treaties, military alliances and other forms of collective security.
A graduate degree in international relations provides students with a broad perspective of the global landscape and how decision-making at any level affects global outcomes. The skills learned in this interdisciplinary field can be applied to many different careers, including diplomacy, humanitarian work, policy analysis and research and business management.