# international relations

> study of relationships between two or more states

**Wikidata**: [Q166542](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q166542)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_relations)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/international-relations

## Summary
International relations is the study of relationships between two or more states, encompassing diplomacy, foreign policy, and global governance. It is a core academic discipline within political science and includes subfields such as peace and conflict studies, international political economy, and security studies.

## Key Facts
- **Definition**: Study of relationships between two or more states.
- **Parent Concepts**: Part of political science; includes subfields like peace and conflict studies, international political economy, security studies, and geopolitics.
- **Related Academic Fields**: Ties to kremlinology, Vaticanology, psephology, transitology, and political psychology.
- **Core Components**: Involves diplomacy, foreign policy, negotiation, and international law.
- **Notable Sub-disciplines**: International political economy, security studies, peace and conflict studies.
- **Key Theorists and Figures**: Notable scholars include Hans Morgenthau, Zbigniew Brzezinski, E. H. Carr, Kenneth Waltz, Joseph Nye, and Robert Keohane.
- **Institutional Affiliations**: Connected to academic institutions like Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Peace Research Institute Frankfurt, French Institute of International Relations (Ifri), and Istituto Affari Internazionali.
- **Professional Associations**: American Political Science Association (APSA), International Political Science Association (IPSA), Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA).
- **Bibliographic Identifiers**: P373: "International relations"; P1036: 327; P3417: International-Relations-3; P3984: IRstudies.
- **Aliases**: IR, international affairs.
- **Sitelink Count**: 97.
- **Wikipedia Title**: International relations.
- **Wikidata Description**: Study of relationships between two or more states.

## FAQs

### Q: What is the primary focus of international relations?
A: International relations focuses on the interactions between states, including diplomacy, foreign policy, and global governance. It examines how nations negotiate, form alliances, and resolve conflicts.

### Q: What are the main subfields within international relations?
A: Key subfields include peace and conflict studies, international political economy, security studies, and geopolitics. These areas analyze different aspects of global interactions, from economic policies to military strategies.

### Q: Who are some notable scholars in international relations?
A: Influential figures include Hans Morgenthau, Zbigniew Brzezinski, E. H. Carr, Kenneth Waltz, Joseph Nye, and Robert Keohane. These scholars have shaped theories and practices in diplomacy, realism, and global policy.

### Q: What institutions are associated with international relations?
A: Prominent institutions include the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF), French Institute of International Relations (Ifri), and Istituto Affari Internazionali. These organizations contribute research, policy analysis, and educational programs.

### Q: How is international relations classified academically?
A: It is classified as a subfield of political science, often studied within broader social science programs. It is also linked to interdisciplinary areas such as philosophy, economics, and law.

### Q: What are the professional associations for international relations?
A: Major associations include the American Political Science Association (APSA), International Political Science Association (IPSA), and Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA). These organizations support research, education, and professional development in the field.

## Why It Matters
International relations is essential for understanding how nations interact, negotiate, and coexist in a globalized world. It provides frameworks for analyzing conflicts, fostering cooperation, and shaping policies that affect global security, trade, and human rights. As a discipline, it bridges academic theory and real-world application, influencing diplomatic strategies, international law, and global governance. Its insights are critical in addressing transnational challenges such as war, economic inequality, and climate change.

## Notable For
- Being a foundational discipline within political science with global academic and policy relevance.
- Hosting specialized subfields like peace and conflict studies, international political economy, and security studies.
- Involving high-profile scholars and practitioners who have shaped global policy and academic discourse.
- Being supported by major research institutions and think tanks such as Ifri, PRIF, and Istituto Affari Internazionali.
- Having strong bibliographic and multilingual metadata, indicating its wide recognition and indexing in global academic systems.
- Including interdisciplinary connections with law, economics, sociology, and history, reflecting its broad societal impact.

## Body

### Definition and Scope
International relations is defined as the study of relationships between two or more states. It encompasses the analysis of diplomatic interactions, foreign policy decisions, and international law. The field is part of the broader discipline of political science and includes subfields such as peace and conflict studies, international political economy, and security studies.

### Parent Disciplines and Related Fields
- **Political Science**: International relations is a subfield of political science, which includes comparative politics, political theory, and public administration.
- **Related Fields**: Ties to kremlinology, Vaticanology, psephology, transitology, and political psychology.
- **Academic Programs**: Often studied within Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) degrees and similar interdisciplinary programs.

### Core Concepts and Subfields
- **Diplomacy**: The art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states.
- **Peace and Conflict Studies**: Focuses on the study of violent and nonviolent behaviors and associated structural mechanisms.
- **International Political Economy**: Examines the intersection of politics and economics on a global scale.
- **Security Studies**: Analyzes national and international security issues, including military strategy and threat assessment.
- **Geopolitics**: Studies the effects of human and physical geography on international politics and relations.

### Notable Scholars and Practitioners
- **Hans Morgenthau**: American political scientist known for his contributions to realism in international relations.
- **Zbigniew Brzezinski**: Polish-American diplomat and political scientist, former National Security Advisor.
- **E. H. Carr**: British historian and political scientist, known for his realist approach.
- **Kenneth Waltz**: American political scientist, a key figure in neorealism.
- **Joseph Nye**: American political scientist, known for the concept of soft power.
- **Robert Keohane**: American political scientist, prominent in international relations theory.

### Institutional Landscape
- **Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies**: Division of Johns Hopkins University, based in Washington, D.C., focusing on international affairs.
- **Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF)**: German research institute specializing in peace and conflict studies, founded in 1970.
- **French Institute of International Relations (Ifri)**: Think tank based in Paris, founded in 1979, focusing on international relations.
- **Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI)**: Italian research institute founded in 1965, dedicated to international relations and policy research.

### Professional Associations
- **American Political Science Association (APSA)**: Founded in 1903, a leading professional organization for political scientists.
- **International Political Science Association (IPSA)**: Founded in 1949, promotes international cooperation among political scientists.
- **Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA)**: Founded in 1939, supports political science research and education.

### Academic and Research Infrastructure
- **Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)**: Interdisciplinary academic degree integrating political science with philosophy and economics.
- **Peace and Conflict Studies**: Academic discipline studying violent and nonviolent behaviors and mechanisms.
- **International Political Economy**: Academic field examining the interplay of politics and economics globally.

### Notable People and Contributors
- **Hans Morgenthau**: Political scientist, key figure in international relations theory.
- **Zbigniew Brzezinski**: Diplomat and political scientist, former National Security Advisor.
- **E. H. Carr**: Historian and political scientist, known for realism.
- **Kenneth Waltz**: Political scientist, developed neorealist theory.
- **Joseph Nye**: Political scientist, introduced the concept of soft power.
- **Robert Keohane**: Political scientist, known for contributions to international relations theory.

### Works and Publications
- **"The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century"** by Samuel P. Huntington.
- **"Between Past and Future"** by Hannah Arendt.
- **"Clinton Cash"** by Peter Schweizer.
- **"The Russian Threat"** (book).

### Historical and Antecedent Context
- **Cameralism**: Former German science of administration, predecessor to modern political science and public administration.
- **Historical Figures**: Notable individuals such as Roman Dmowski, George F. Kennan, and Sadako Ogata have influenced the field through their work in diplomacy and academia.

### Bibliographic and Cataloguing Data
- **P373**: International relations.
- **P1036**: 327.
- **P3417**: International-Relations-3.
- **P3984**: IRstudies.
- **P5437**: 3228.
- **P8313**: international_politik.
- **P8408**: InternationalRelations, InternationalAffairs.

### Language and Accessibility
- Indexed in multiple languages and vocabulary variants, including international_politik, relazioni-internazionali, and internasjonale_relasjoner.
- Multilingual access supports global engagement and research.

### Community and Alumni
- The community includes scholars, diplomats, policy advisors, and researchers from institutions such as universities, think tanks, and international organizations.
- Alumni include political scientists, historians, economists, and public servants who contribute to global policy and academic discourse.

### Digital Presence and Communication
- Institutions maintain active digital presences through websites, social media, and online resources.
- Platforms include Twitter, YouTube, and institutional blogs, facilitating communication and engagement with a global audience.

### Membership and Affiliations
- **APSA, IPSA, MPSA**: Professional associations supporting political science research and education.
- **PRIF, Ifri, IAI**: Research institutes contributing to international relations scholarship and policy.

### Location and Infrastructure
- Research institutions and think tanks are located globally, including in the U.S., Germany, France, and Italy.
- Infrastructure includes libraries, research centers, and digital platforms supporting academic and policy work.

### Research and Professional Development
- Research activities focus on international relations, peace studies, and policy analysis.
- Professional development opportunities include academic programs, fellowships, and policy internships.

### Selected Bibliographic and Authority Identifiers
- P373: International relations.
- P1036: 327.
- P3417: International-Relations-3.
- P3984: IRstudies.
- P5437: 3228.
- P8313: international_politik.
- P8408: InternationalRelations, InternationalAffairs.

## References

1. Directory of Open Access Journals
2. general catalog of BnF
3. Biblioteca Nacional de España
4. [Nuovo soggettario](https://thes.bncf.firenze.sbn.it/termine.php?id=1662)
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. National Library of Latvia
7. Nuovo soggettario
8. [Registros de autoridad de "Materia" de la Biblioteca Nacional de España. Spain open data portal](https://www.bne.es/media/datosgob/catalogo-autoridades/materia/materia-UTF8.zip)
9. [Source](https://www.eui.eu/research/library/researchguides/politicalandsocialsciences/classification)
10. BBC Things
11. Library of Congress
12. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
13. BabelNet
14. Quora
15. [Source](https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/1297.02008?OpenDocument)
16. FactGrid
17. National Library of Israel
18. KBpedia
19. [Source](https://vocabs.ardc.edu.au/viewById/316)
20. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)