What IR means to me

Now that this course in international relations is over, I feel that I can actually relay informedly what IR means to me. IR is not just a concept, or a collection of theories about how the world and its players work together and oppose each other. IR is not just wars, diplomacy, and competition between states. IR is an entire world of people and their governments constantly trying to survive in an anarchic international system. Whether it be politically, socially, culturally, economically or environmentally, IR is the ideas, problems and solutions that surface from the constant interaction between people and states.

I play a role in IR. Everyday, when I brush my teeth with toothpaste, when I buy coffee from starbucks, when I use my Samsung cell phone I am affecting international relations. Learning about IR has only deepened my understanding that every person plays a role in international politics and international relations, whether it be through trade and consumerism, like most of us, or diplomacy and policy making, like those select few leaders.