Comprehending International Relations – a necessity in the 21st century
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The ever-shrinking world of the 21st century is sustaining the global village we live in today.
The movement of persons, finance and commercial products underscores the significance of reliance and the challenge of attempting to remain self-reliant. No country remains isolated – not even islands – as the multiplicity of cross-cutting sectors and segments of the global community have amalgamated to create a rich diversity, within countries and among them.
The spread of COVID-19 from Wuhan to Washington and beyond, to capitals and communities around the world, is testimony to the ease of access, speed of travel and the deeply ingrained connectivity that is a key characteristic of the modern era.
This closely knit system in which nationality, identity and sovereignty are also keenly contested, has created a fresh impetus in the need for understanding the global community to a much wider and deeper extent.
Whilst the interactions among countries and their People have increased tremendously, so has the relevance of the academic discipline of International Relations, which embodies actual connectivity.
The field of International Relations (IR), having officially started a century ago, has existed in the practical form for millennia. Yet the integrated study, theoretical foundation, its detailed analysis and reflection on the repercussions of relations, has ensured that humanity is better equipped and more adept in comprehending all that occurs around us.
From global commerce and the power-play among countries, to diplomacy and multilateral engagement, the field of IR is not only for those focusing on the discipline in its entirety. Its relevance extends to varied professions and is today an important interface, guaranteeing proficiency and providing an advantage for professionals.
The research and study of this field give the practitioner an advantage, irrespective of one’s chosen profession, as it ‘connects the dots’ on the world stage. Appreciation of nuances, clarity of reasons for action, and most importantly the understanding of why countries do what they do, stands the student of IR in good stead.
From clothes we wear and devices we use, to food we eat, vehicles we travel in and fuel we use, it is evident that countries are reliant on each other. The deeper we delve and further we explore, the more we realise that the decades ahead will call for better understanding of that which occurs around us owing to this reliance.
A Chinese proverb reminds us of the need to ‘dig the well before you are thirsty.’ As the third decade of the 21st century unravels, countries will continue to integrate, rely and engage widely.
The more aware, knowledgeable and prepared we are, the further we will progress.
- Dr. George I. H. Cooke
Diplomatic Historian
Faculty Member, MA International Relations
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