The contemporary world is the study of a world in
transition, approaches to the study
differ immensely. Much depends on orientation, training and interests of
those who teach and write in the field. History and
political science are the disciplines from which international relations has
emerged. Approaches natural to those tow older disciplines are still in use. In
introductory courses, the necessary
historical background is highlighted.
Generally, in Britain or countries influenced by British
education, introductory courses in international relations are
usually courses in history of recent international affairs. In USA, analytical approach is preferred. In
European universities, approach to the study of international relations is
heavily legalistic, theoretical, emphasizing institutional legal norms, jurisprudence and history.
The student of international
relations should pursue his study with sense, appraise its unit action and possibilities, its
goals and objectives. He is endlessly
conversed with emotions,
personalities, renditions
materials and other intangible
and changing factors. He is made an
engineer or a scientist with laws of
physical world. He must never
regard himself as a mere observer or as
one who finds the unfolding story of
politics among nations interesting but without profit as a means to help men shape their future. He
must not be discouraged because of those who attack
international relations for
its inability to find effective
means of preventing tension and conflict
among nations or that has not predicated
the course of events accurately. There
must be predicated the
course of events accurately. There must be serious
attention to the problems of world security,
welfare and the survival of out
lives.
The crisis of
the modern age has persisted and it is like we are living in the period of great transition of human history.
E.H Carr opined that the real
international crisis of our times seems to be the final and
irrevocable breakdown of the conditions which made the 19th century world order possible. The foundation of our world is
shaky, new political alignment and relations are fast emerging. Today, international relations is characterized
by a high degree of interaction and interdependence.
International relations since world war ii has been the search for a new international order to replace the old order that was destroyed in two world wars and to formulate a new pattern of
relationship in a world dominated by two super powers, divested between the
capitalist and communist and between the have and have-not nations;
and altered by the emergence on many new nations.
The
Nature of the Study of International Relations
The study of international relation
is constantly changing , it is in transition. As the world becomes more
complex, the study becomes much more
than the relations among nation-states
and international organizations and
groups-transitional relationships.
International relations is
heavily dependent upon other
disciplines. Nevertheless, it contains
features which set it apart form these
other disciplines. It also has a particular approach to the problems with which
it deals.