What international relations means to me.

I think a lot of people get the impression that international relations is simply politics.  But international relations is not just the relationship between two states.  Sure things like treaties and trade agreements are important to global politics – but they don’t even begin to scratch the surface of explaining what IR really is. 

The other aspect of international relations, the underestimated aspect, is the role of the individual.  Individuals make decisions that effect international relations every day.  Decisions that we have to think about can influence the way the world works.  We choose what we purchase.  We buy products in that were manufactured outside the United States.  Literally anything we buy can be the drop in the metaphorical bucket of IR that sends ripples throughout the bucket/world. Have you ever read the back of any Apple product?  They proudly display that their product was ‘Designed in California.’  But if you look closer, it says “Produced in China” in smaller letters right below that.  What about clothes?  Is there anything in your closet that isn’t made in China, Cambodia, or Taiwan? But international relations isn’t just about what we choose to buy.  We’ve all seen those television ads for the programs that feed starving children around the world.  They claim that for a nickel a day you can save a starving child suffering on the other side of the world.  These humanitarian decisions are also international relations.  Whether we choose to act or not makes a difference.  Many people think that there is nothing they can do to help.  But everyone is capable of making a difference.  There is nothing that says that you have to change the world – but it is definitely possible to help change one person’s life for the better.  

International relations is so much more than just international politics – if IR was just international politics, wouldn’t they call it that instead?  International relations, to me, represents the power of not only governments to create change in this world – but individuals too.  Individuals can made a difference.  And while our role in international may not be as apparent, we are just as important to world affairs as the government.  International relations is what gives people significance. It makes us all think of the consequences of our actions – no matter how big or how small that action may be.  International relations has opened my eyes to what it means to be a part of this world.  In this case, the cliché is true – we really are connected to everyone else on this world.