International relations is a major multidiscipline of political science, covering aspects of global politics, history, international law and economics. It draws from other fields like anthropology, geography, philosophy, law and sociology and has many schools of thought. The most prominent are realism and liberalism.

Developing your understanding of the world can help you make connections that will benefit your career. It can also improve your cultural sensitivity, which is an advantage in a world where people are increasingly connecting and working together across the globe. International relations students often take part in group projects or discussions with people from different countries and backgrounds, which can build this capability.

As the world becomes more interconnected, the study of international relations has become a popular subject. The rise of the field at the beginning of the 20th century was sparked by a desire to find less-dangerous and more-effective means of conducting relations between nations; the belief that systematic observation and inquiry could dispel ignorance and serve human betterment; and the democratisation of political affairs, including foreign policy.

The system of international relations is constantly changing and reshaping, as factors like economic and technological change, new powers and global crises, such as pandemics, wars or climate change, reshape the world order. Increasingly, states are cooperating on the international stage to prevent the worst consequences of these trends, such as through agreements like the Paris Accord and the fight against global warming. This is often referred to as soft power.