International Relations

By Rishana Balkisson

Mark Simpson looks at the evolution of international relations as a study and the methods that scholars have over the decades used to study I.R. Judging from this analysis, do International Relations have any relevance in the 21st century? Justify your answer.

We are now living in the 21st century, our world has been through two major world wars and we are still fighting many wars and battles. It has been found that many countries come together as a team and then end their relationships with blood in their hands. Presidents from all round the glob come together to celebrate or to negotiate deals. We also have the United Nations, which is an international power which is made up of the different nations to help the countries that need help. International trade takes place between all the different countries so that we receive the benefits that other countries offer.

International relations is said to be the back bone of the news that occurs all around the globe. Everyday when we watch the news on the television we find that they have local and international news why is this? Why it is so important to us to learn what is going on in other countries? Well during world war one there was a birth of the League of Nations. It was here that we found the very first time countries coming together to help their neighbours. This is the real birth of international relations; it was found here that different countries helped them with food supply, ammunition and soldiers.

In world war two the growth of realism took place, this dominated the international relations. What is realism? "Realism is grounded in an emphasis on power politics and pursuit of national interests" according to international relations from a realism point of view politics internationally was anarchic, it is when a state or country acts in order to benefit for its own interests and not the rest of the world.