International Relations, Defination and Scope

[Nadiralisiddiqui]

Definition & Scope:

Definition:
International relations is a field of political science that studies relationships among countries, the roles of sovereign states, inter-governmental organizations (IGOs), international non-governmental organizations (INs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and multinational corporations (MNCs). International relations is an academic and a public policy field, and so can be positive and normative, because it analyzes and formulates the foreign policy of a given State.

Scope:
The scope of international relations has become very vast. The world has virtually become a "global village", as interdependence of states has increased manifold. Economic relations between states, the role of international institutions like the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation today influences economic activity all over the worlld. The United Nations and its various agencies are engaged in numerous socio-economic and political activities. Multinational Corporations (MNCs), also are giant companies operating the world over, are important non-state actors of international relations. International terrorism is a cause of serious concern for the human existence. Thus, the scope of international relations has become vast, and, besides international politics, it embraces various other inter - State activities as well. It is known by now that international relations encompass a myriad of discipline. Attempts to structure and intellectualize it have often been thematically and analytically confined to boundaries determined by data.

Core Concepts:
The core concepts of international relations are International Organization,International Law, Foreign Policy, International Conflict, International Economic Relations and Military Thought and Strategy. International/Regional Security, Strategic Studies, International Political Economy, Conflict/War and Peace Studies, Globalization, International Regimes. Moreover it covers, state sovereignty, ecological sustainability,nuclear proliferation, nationalism, economic development, terrorism,organized crime, human security, foreign interventionism and human rights. .