The Meaning of International Relations April 24, 2008

International Relations (IR) is one of the most influential fields in the world today. Everyone in the world falls under the scope of IR and is affected by it in some way. Therefore, everyone should make him or herself as aware of IR topics as possible. By becoming better educated on issues such as war, the environment, ethics, morals, and economics, we may better understand the world around us. With individual awareness will come positive change. If an issue, such as global warming, is portrayed to the public, then individuals acting collectively can bring the issue to the forefront of their governments agenda. From there, to ensure that the State’s policies are supported abroad, individual nations can work in harmony to help improve the world around us so that it is more peaceful and equal for those who inhabit it. This positive change however, starts at the individual level. To me, IR represents the framework for improving the global community, but in order for IR to be truly successful, the individuals who form the majority of a country must support State actions. Supporting local movements for positive change is the first domino to fall in the field of IR, because while individuals may not have direct control over the decisions leaders make, those same decisions are made on the behalf of the people the leaders represent. By making clear the positions society values, more effective leaders can be elected and more positive change can be expected. While this outlook on IR, as being intimately tied to the individual level as opposed to some distant field of study where a few in power make decisions, may be somewhat idealist, I think it is nevertheless important. From this perspective, people will be encouraged to stay up to date on world issues and help promote a better world. Something those in the IR field do everyday.