What IR Means To Me

My first conceptions of international relations involved how individual states, coupled with international organizations, interact with each other. However, after considering all that I have learned this semester, my entire mindset regarding international relations has been altered.

For me, international relations is much more personal than I once thought. By becoming knowledgable about one’s surroundings and about how the world functions, one can make a significant impact. For example, by obtaining information regarding genocide in other nations, a single person can become active in a non-governmental organization, such as UNICEF, and contribute directly in order to aid those suffering. By refusing to purchase clothing made in sweatshops in Asia or “blood diamonds” found in Africa, Americans can show widespread disapproval for such cruel behavior. Both of these examples are strongly moral, and since the United States often prides itself on being a beacon for freedom and morality, it is only right for Americans to advance this interest.

Domestically, by engaging in protest, one can alter the foreign policy of their country, as was seen in the United States during the Vietnam War. On a larger scale, any American can become involved in organized politics and work to facilitate lasting change in the world.

The study of international relations is incredibly broad and open-ended, but it is crucial that all people have at least some grasp of the theories of IR. Understanding realist theories regarding security and power, liberal theories involving cooperation and community, and constructivist theories involving ideas all help a person to obtain a multi-faceted view of the world. This can help them to understand how the world operates, which is the first step toward truly being an active citizen of the United States and of the entire global community. I maintain that there is an “I” in international relations – the world is a community made up of individuals, who must take responsibility first and become engaged in order for all views to be expressed and for all people to remain content.