What function does international affairs serve?

Ismaila Whittier
3 min readDec 21, 2022

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International affairs examines how people live their lives and the social, cultural, political, economic, and environmental challenges that affect the entire world. International relations are also important for keeping the world peaceful and stable, protecting human rights and the environment, and making people’s lives better.

International affairs at the organizational level focuses on the connection between organizations and foreign policy. This kind of research takes into account how organizations affect the state’s capacity to achieve its objectives as well as how such organizations themselves impact state behavior.

The most obvious benefit of organizational level analysis in international relations is that it provides a standard against which to measure how effective a state’s policies are. It can be used to pinpoint areas that need improvement.

Scholars have used a variety of organizational-level analytic techniques, such as comparison analysis, contingency analysis, and system-level studies. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, and some have a greater influence on state conduct than others. Governments must, however, strike a balance between the demands of each level of analysis.

International affairs organization-level analysis can assist in addressing some of the most important problems that states are now experiencing. For instance, it can assist decision-makers in better understanding how their actions impact the rest of the globe. Additionally, the findings might contribute to improving international governance. Additionally, these kinds of assessments assist in identifying crucial elements that may be the cause of the most important issues that states confront, as well as the most efficient ways to address those issues.

In international politics, individual-level analysis is the study of people’s decisions and worldviews. Additionally, it incorporates state behavior and cognitive theories. The major objective is to clarify the decision-making process used by policymakers in a particular country. This covers the people’s political ideas and the position of the leader.

An illustration of a personal analysis would be the examination of Adolf Hitler’s World War II strategy. You could attempt to explain how he was able to win the war using this hypothesis.

Studying the Iraq War is a second illustration of an individual-level examination. In this situation, you might examine Bush’s character and worldview. You may also research former Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld’s political views.

State and system are the other two levels of analysis in international relations. These tiers present the conflict in a more comprehensive way. Additionally, they let you zoom in and out of the details so you can learn the subtleties of the many factors.

The state level concentrates on a state’s internal qualities as opposed to the global level, which studies a state’s surroundings. This could encompass people’s personalities, beliefs, and economic, political, and strategic stances.

Schools that focus on international affairs aim to teach students how to identify issues and find solutions. Global politics, international business, and language proficiency are the main areas of focus in the training. It also involves managerial and statistical training. The upcoming generation of national security leaders is being developed in these institutions.

There have long been international affairs schools. However, certain adjustments have been made over the past two years. Certification programs for gender issues in foreign policy are among the many new programs that have been added. While some institutions have shifted their emphasis, others have stuck to their initial goal of preparing students for the Foreign Service.

Understanding the many degrees that are offered is crucial if you want to study international affairs. You can obtain a master’s degree in economics, public policy, or another subject. Additionally, many schools provide dual degree programs. Additionally, some schools provide specializations in career tracks.

These courses typically last two years and include internship requirements. Also available to students is a PhD. Programs are fiercely competitive. While some colleges favor candidates who have served in the Peace Corps, most focus on merit.

For someone with some experience in government, professional schools of international affairs can be a fantastic choice. Graduates from programs in international affairs frequently find employment with large governments or multinational enterprises.

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Ismaila Whittier
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Ismaila Whittier's interests include international affairs, British period dramas, history, travelling, preppy fashion and soccer.