The features of a subject are referred to as its nature. In that regard, the following describes the nature of international relations:


International relations are evolving


The character of global relations is flexible. An in-depth examination of world politics is what is known as international relations.

World politics underwent a significant change during the post-World War II era. NATO, headed by the United States, and the Warsaw Pact, led by the Soviet Union, formed the two poles of world affairs. After the Soviet Union fell apart in the 1990s, there was a sort of unipolarity in global politics.

The growing importance of non-state actors like NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations), MNCs (Multinational Companies), etc, are also discussed in the field of International relations. 

International Relations as an academic discipline discusses the changing pattern of the contemporary world.

Being a Multidisciplinary Subject


The study of social science is always interdisciplinary. Another interdisciplinary area of study is international relations, which connects several social science fields like history, economics, political science, philosophy, geography, and culture.

In IR, the state is the main player.


The State is the lone and unifying actor in the world of international politics. International relations have historically been dominated by the state. International relations also looks at how states act as a key determinant of global politics.

Power and national interest are the basis of IR.

The primary objective of the state is the defence of national interests. The state interacts in interactions with other states with this objective in mind, and the state's national strength will be able to serve its national interests.

Thus, it can be seen that the basic concerns of IR are those of national interest and the function of national power in achieving those interests.

Conflict for Power

International politics, in Morgenthau's view, is a struggle for dominance. Power is the method of advancing the national interest, as I've already stated. Power politics are hence the primary subject of IR.

The Nation States' Ongoing Interaction

In the modern world, no state is self-sufficient. Each state depends on the others. Therefore, interconnectivity is necessary and is only made possible by the interplay between many states.

The foreign policies of various states and their interactions with one another are also included in the study of international relations.

Analysis and Empirical Research for Theory Development

The development of theories in international relations also employs analytical and empirical techniques.

In IR, there are numerous theories. Realism and Neo-Realism, for instance, are the outcomes of an empirical research while Idealism and Neo-Liberalism are the outcomes of an analytical investigation.