International relations (IR) is a broad multidisciplinary field that encompasses the study of the relationship between nations. It often draws on the fields of economics, history, political science, geography, philosophy, law, and sociology. In addition to studying the relations between nation-states, IR scholars often focus on nonstate actors like multinational corporations, international organizations, and social movements.
IR has its roots in Europe after World War I. After the war, many European intellectuals pondered the causes of such a disastrous war and began to develop new theories about international society.
These new theories centered on the role of power, and emphasized the need for cooperation between countries to avoid war. They also called for the establishment of international institutions to promote peace and to sanction nations if they acquiesced in aggression.
As the United States grapples with globalization, it faces the challenge of promoting a liberal world order while dealing with problems such as infectious diseases, poverty, and poor governance that empower tiny groups to inflict grievous harm. These challenges require a greater sense of global community and deeper integration between the United States and its partners, including the rapidly expanding economies of China and India.
Whether the United States is able to achieve these goals remains a matter of debate. In the meantime, the forces of globalization continue to reshape American life. Trade, travel, and immigration are all now part of everyday life, and the consequences often reach down to state and local levels.