International Relations

Introduction – 

International relations, also known as global studies, is the study of the relationship between states and international organisations. In layman’s terms, it is the study of politics, economics and law at a global level. As the world becomes more and more connected, international relations are also becoming more important through trade and commerce, migration and social media, and this globalised world needs skilled people to deal with current and future challenges. One may  learn about the different political systems and governance policies globally, to understand how they connect with a wide range of international affairs such as human rights, global poverty, climate change, global ethics, etc.

Each university offers different nomenclatures for International relations such as , such as        International Studies, Global studies, international affairs or global affairs. 

How to build on the subject: 

The field of international relations requires many years of theoretical study. However, those interested in politics and policy can opt for a career in international relations. It requires not only professional education, but also interdisciplinary skills. Participating in internships, debate competitions, volunteering in an organization can be a good start. Organizations such as the United Nations, the European Union, international NGOs and multinational corporations all have annual internship programs for graduates or recent graduates. Watching some documentaries, attending summer camps, and online courses will improve domain knowledge.

Competencies required – 

Communication – This involves extensive communication with government officials, organization leaders, staff members and the public. To make sure that messages are conveyed correctly to all involved parties, international relations professionals must maintain excellent communication skills. 

Cross-Cultural Management – When different countries come together for an international effort or discussion, cultural differences such as conflicting political values, thought structures, and even historical or cultural expectations can hinder success in intercultural communication. International relations professionals must develop an interpretation of the cross culturalism in the areas in which they work and how individuals acknowledge certain actions or communication efforts in order to ease  successful negotiations.

Flexibility – Careers  in international relations often require professionals to make difficult personal and professional decisions, flexibility is an important skill necessary for success. Professional interests that may require flexibility are collaborative efforts that require trade-offs between different communities/ governments, as agreements made without due consideration can damage relationships.

Teamwork – Emphasising teamwork as a core professional skill allows those working in international relations to act as facilitators, to transfer ideas smoothly and to ensure that their team achieves the goals of their government or organisation.

Analysis – Areas of analysis that can most benefit someone working in an international relations capacity is creativity, data analysis, and critical thinking.

Negotiation – This career requires a balance between maintaining the organisation’s position and to meet the needs of other parties. The ability to understand what is most important to the other parties in a negotiation and to apply this knowledge helps professionals in negotiation outcomes that benefit many parties.

Jobs – 

Aspirants  are always advised to pursue a master’s degree in the same, which opens up much more career versatility. The Master of Arts in International Studies offers several fields of study: international relations, international law, international political economy, international economics, world history, strategic studies, globalisation. 

One will work as an IR specialist in international organisations such as UN agencies, EU departments, the World Health Organisation and the World Economic Forum; Social activist to bring changes in our economy; Political analysts to analyse public policy, identify various policy issues for research and advise political leaders on foreign government policy; a diplomat who is in constant contact with the government officials of a foreign country, who represents his country and protects it by collecting all information that affects the interests of his country and may also participate in government services. 

 Admission and Entrance Exams – 

Students wanting to pursue International Relations are advised to opt for humanities with political sciences in their high school. However, it is not a compulsion, students who did not opt for humanities can still go for International Relations. Generally, students pursue graduation in political sciences and then go for international studies for their master’s. But if you are keen on studying IR in your graduation, there are a few universities that offer bachelor’s in the same in India.

How to prepare for the entrance exam

UG International Relations

CUET Political Science syllabus has two major parts with a total of 19 units. There will be one Question Paper which will have 50 questions out of which 40 questions need to be attempted.

These parts are Politics in India Since Independence with 10 units (The era of One-Party Dominance,  Nation-Building and Its Problems, Politics of Planned Development, India’s External Relations, Challenge to and Restoration of Congress System,Crisis of the Constitutional Order, Regional Aspirations and Conflicts, Rise of New Social Movements, Democratic Upsurge and Coalition Politics, Recent Issues and Challenges) and Contemporary World Politics with 9 units ( Cold War Era in World Politics, Disintegration of the ‘Second World’ and the Collapse of Bipolarity, US Dominance in World Politics,  Alternative Centres of Economic and Political Power, South Asia in the Post-Cold War Era,  International Organisations in a Unipolar World,Security in Contemporary World,  Environment and Natural Resources in Global Politics and Globalisation and Its Critics).  There will be one Question Paper which will have 50 questions out of which 40 questions need to be attempted.

PG International Relations

The CUET PG syllabus (2022) includes – 

Exam Pattern – 

UG level

At UG level the CUET exam is computer based. In section 1A there are13 languages  available from which the student can choose  i.e. Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Malayalam, Odia, Gujarati, Bengali, Assamese, English, Bengali, Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu. Section 1B is optional and for students who want to opt for another language apart from the ones that are a part of Section 1A. Some of the languages on offer are French, Arabic, German, etc. 45 minutes is allotted for this domain and 40 questions are to be answered out of 50 questions.

Section II is based on the domain subject political science. 40 MCQ are to be answered out of 50 MCQ. 45 minutes is allotted for this domain.

Section III is based on General Knowledge, Current Affairs, General Mental Ability, Numerical Ability, Quantitative Reasoning (Simple application of basic mathematical concepts arithmetic/algebra geometry/mensuration) Logical and Analytical Reasoning. 60 questions are to be answered out of 75 questions and 60 mins are given for this section.

As per the official CUET notification, 5 marks will be awarded for every correct attempt, and 1 mark will be deducted for every incorrect attempt. However, there will be no penalty for unattempted questions.

 PG level –

At PG level the CUET exam is computer based and the medium of instruction is English or Hindi. The total marks is 400 and a correct answer is marked +4 whereas a wrong answer leads to negative marking of -1. 

Colleges in India offering B.A. in International Relations:

• Delhi University, New Delhi
• Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
• Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
• Ambedkar University, New Delhi
• Ashoka University, Haryana
• Jindal School of International Affairs, Haryana
• Christ University – History Economics and Political Science (HEP) and Economics, Political Science, and Sociology (EPS)
• Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida
• Symbiosis School, Noida
• Flame University
• Ajeenkya DY Patil University, Pune
• Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida
• Amity University-Noida

Colleges in India offering M.A in International Relations/ Political Science:

• Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi:
• Delhi University, New Delhi
• Jadavpur University, Kolkata
• South Asian University, New Delhi 
• Christ University, Bengaluru
• St Xavier’s College, Mumbai
• Banaras Hindu University
• TISS, Hyderabadad

Colleges in Abroad offering Bachelors in International Relations

Harvard University

Stanford University

University of Cambridge

University College London

University of Melbourne

University of Toronto

Sciences Po University