|
International Politics
A UK Perspective
Today's world appears to be shrinking. Global events explode
across television screens and force their way onto newspaper
headlines at a frightening pace. Electronic communications
fly across national boundaries at a press of a button. A
fall in the stock market in Tokyo can induce panic in all
of the major financial centres of the world. Whether it
is famine in Sub-Saharan Africa, ethnic conflict in Central
Europe, European Integration, or global trade policy, it
is difficult to escape the feeling that local events have
a global dimension. Attempting to understand the political
implications of these events and how and why they happen
is the aim of International Politics.
Often referred to as International Relations, International
Politics is emerging as one of the most interesting and exciting
subjects to study at University. British Universities, in
particular, offer a range of varied and innovative degree
schemes that help students understand this fascinating and
complex subject. The first university department in the world
to study the subject was based at the University of Wales,
Aberystwyth in 1919. Students today can still study the subject
at Aberystwyth, as well as at other major centres throughout
Britain.
The subject grew out of the carnage of World War One. People
everywhere wanted to know how and why the war had occurred,
and how such a catastrophe could be prevented in the future.
The subject was thus born out of war, and to this day one
of its major concerns is the avoidance of war and the management
of conflict.
However, although the study of war plays a fundamental role,
International Politics is much broader than simply the study
of war, and encompasses a wide range of issues, as well as
investigating how these issues impact on all of us. It deals
with great issues: of war and peace, power and justice, rights
and duties. The focus is on the most pressing problems of
our time: nationalism and ethnic conflict, pollution and the
environment, famine and poverty, silences and exclusions,
weapons and warfare, world order and disorder. The subject
matter is intellectually challenging and touches on law, philosophy,
history, economics and sociology. International Politics is
vitally important because it explores questions that critically
affect the lives of all of us.
Given the breadth of the subject, students can take various
differently structured specialist degree schemes. International
Politics and Strategic Studies, for example, is concerned
with understanding and explaining the military dimension of
international relations. The focus of this degree scheme,
therefore, is on the threat and use of military force, and
the prevention and conduct of war.
Alternatively, students can take a degree in International
Politics and Intelligence Studies, which focuses on the role
played by intelligence agencies in relation to International
Politics. Other degree schemes are those such as Peace Studies,
or Third World Studies. In general, first year students are
introduced to some of the key ideas, debates and issues in
the fields of International Politics, and International History
and Politics. These are then developed in a series of core
Honours modules in the second and third years, the specific
content of which depends upon the degree scheme being followed.
Students studying International Politics and Intelligence,
for example, will take a number of specialist intelligence
and intelligence-related modules. Whereas students taking
a degree in International Politics and International History
will take the same introductory module, but will focus in
the second and third years of specialised modules dealing
with various aspects of International History.
A degree in International Politics allows students to gain
a unique set of analytical skills, and a comprehensive understanding
of global political and economic processes required in today's
globalized world. The necessity of understand how these global
processes work is now being recognized by many employers and
a degree in International Politics offers graduates a wide
choice of careers.
Whether your ambitions direct you towards private business,
public service, the voluntary sector or the media, political
issues will have a major role to play. A degree in International
Politics will provide you with the skills necessary for a
career in a number of areas.
In the business and corporate sectors, for example, the transition
towards Economic and Monetary Union in Europe will have an
impact upon all European companies - whether they are within
or outside the new single currency zone. Businesses throughout
the world want to employ people who have the necessary knowledge
of global political process that will contribute to their
success in the global market place.
In the public sector - in local or national government or
the diplomatic services - knowledge of how International Politics
works is absolutely crucial. Knowledge of International Politics
offers future public servants a huge comparative advantage
over colleagues without a similar understanding.
The voluntary sector is an area of huge employment growth
that recruits many graduates of International Politics. Whether
you are campaigning with an organisation such as Greenpeace
or working with a local development organisation in your community,
political issues will have an effect. How can you lobby decision-making
centres on the latest proposed legislation? How can you access
funding in support of your proposed community centre? Voluntary
organisations need the skills of those who are confident working
in an international environment and who have the communication
skills to put forward their case convincingly. In the media,
the name of the game is communication. If you don't understand
how something works, how can you explain it to someone else?
For anyone interested in a career in media, International
Politics offers the kind of well-rounded and broad base of
knowledge that is crucial in this information age. From the
foothills of Bosnia to a housing estate in Birmingham, journalists
and other media professionals need to know what the issues
are and where to go for answers.
International Politics offers students an awareness of the
variety of international cultures and understanding of the
world's political and economic systems. Understanding global
issues and their impact on local events must be one of the
most fascinating areas of study in a multicultural world.
Author
Colin Wight
Department of International Politics
The University of Wales,
Aberystwyth
|
