The study of global politics, from the formal diplomatic ties that connect nations to the informal networks that influence their decision-making. This multifaceted field explores how societies interact on a world stage, including their cooperation or conflict and their efforts to collaboratively address complex international challenges like climate change. It is a constantly evolving discipline, as events in the daily news frequently reshape international relations (IR).
The ability of a nation or other entity to influence the goals and behavior of others. Policymakers seeking to advance their own interests may use military force or economic tactics, such as trade agreements, to achieve this goal. Policymakers who prioritize upholding moral principles often pursue soft power strategies, such as diplomacy and development assistance.
A system of international organizations that establishes values and standards of conduct for the international community. The most influential are the United Nations, NATO and the Council of Europe. The most recent addition is the International Criminal Court, which has jurisdiction over crimes that violate the laws of war and genocide.
The international order that emerged after the end of the Cold War, when two superpowers shared a dominant position. This arrangement is contrasted with the unipolar order that preceded it, in which one nation has a disproportionately large share of international power. Various theories attempt to explain this distribution of power, including realism, which assumes that all countries strive to accrue more power and that their foremost interest should be self-preservation; liberalism, which promotes cooperative behavior; and dependency theory, which suggests that a core group of powerful states exploits a weaker set of periphery states for their own prosperity.
