International politics is the study of how governments and other non-state actors like global corporations, NGOs or even the media make decisions that affect people across national borders. This can be done at local, regional, national or global level and can include looking at issues such as conflict resolution, diplomacy, foreign policy, security, or how major events such as climate change or pandemics are addressed across countries.
A belief that a country’s foreign policy should reflect its ethical and political values, such as promoting democracy and human rights, in the hope of creating a more peaceful and stable world. It is often contrasted with realism.
The state of being a member of a regional grouping such as the EU or NATO that encourages economic cooperation. Also called interdependence.
A view that most state actions in the global arena are motivated by their unique national characteristics rather than a unified set of global interests. Unlike realists, liberals believe that states do not seek to maximise narrowly defined national security or economic interests and instead pursue a range of aims, including human rights, democracy and free trade.
The belief that some crucial problems, such as global warming or the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, defy unilateral solutions and require multilateral action. A form of international politics that aims to promote the welfare of people in poorer, developing countries by supporting their economic and social development. This may involve military intervention, aid and other forms of non-military assistance.
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