The Importance of International Relations

¶ … human being is a fickle creature, yet marvelous as well. Many have said in recent times that the human race will die within the next half century. Not of plagues or illness, not from an asteroid hitting the planet. No, rather, people surmise the human race will meet it's end due to international relations and foreign policy. In this world today, thousands of nuclear weapons and bombs exist. More nations have attempted to acquire them. Terrorists have become armed with suicide bombing jackets and vests and thousands end up meeting their fate, appearing on the tragic side of the news.

Along with the terrorist attacks are the bevy of problems experienced by man due to lack of resources and extreme poverty. There are people living in mansions while countless others have no access to clean water. The way the international system works, operates is flawed. In order to potentially fix it, one must understand and know about international relations.

This is why international relations has become such an interesting and exciting topic as well as grown an importance to study and analyze. Unfortunately, it is not a common occurrence in school. However, most people have grown familiar with the topic. An excellent example of this are the terrorist attacks that have happened in the last fifteen years.

9/11 of course has been one of the biggest most life-changing terrorist attacks in recent times. Spawning the interest Americans and the world have on foreign diplomacy and international relations. Things like "blood diamonds," "fair trade," "living wage," they all surfaced since those events and have seeped into the fabric of modern day society. It is not because people simply wish to help others, but it is also because people are growing more aware of what impact choices have on the world. Even choices on what one buys, can influence how a person lives on the other side of the globe.

So society has developed an identity, individuals are developing their identity. Put simply, the desire to know more has put international relations, a topic covering poverty and wealth, cooperation and conflict, war and peace, change and power, and understanding patterns of behavior among the world's stage from corporations, to presidents, to states. An international relations for a student, thus becomes a vehicle to learn about many facets of human society, of cultures, of life.

Numerous issues can inspire a student wishing to study international relation to take up the journey. Students may have studied citizenship or politics, geography, history, or sociology, for instance. One might even pursue a different area of study such as math and change directions. Why? Perhaps to discover the answers to many of the world problems like debt, terrorism, climate change, nuclear proliferation, Aids, and even the bird flu.

International relations is the only area that will cover such things. It will do it in a way that is comprehensive and thought provoking. Answers to complex questions require time and patience, tackling things from a different perspective. This is why researching and studying international relations can be so valuable. It is an entry into a world that could help solve the world's biggest problems.

Humanitarian work is a big part of international relations. The fight for basic human rights and access to resources for all. These things emblazon people to pursue this area of study. What comes from it is interest in the work of the United Nations, international business, the armed forces, just to name a few. It really is a gateway to open up the doors to the rest of the world.

Practitioners also learn to care more about the world. To care about its people and the environment. When people grow to know of the travesties and atrocities committed by people for money and power through the rout of international relations, one grows in wisdom and acceptance of the modern world's reality. The fact is the world is chaotic right now. People are starving and there are constant battles fought. Pollution has increased, destroying ecosystems. When people recognize the true dire situation of the world, perhaps that is when change begins.

International relations can open doors and offer students a way to expand their horizons. "Some international relations degrees will offer you the opportunity to take part in parliamentary placements, exchange schemes (including studying abroad at an English language university for a semester or year) or teamwork modules" (Brocklehurst, 2006). It can also reveal some key problems that in the last 25 years have developed. For example, the conflicts between the western and eastern nations. "Global international relations would be much improved if it approximated the regional international law of Western Europe with its interlocking human rights standards" (Forsythe, 2000, p. 16).