International relations (also called international politics) is the study of interactions among the world’s states. It is sometimes also seen as the study of non-state actors, such as international organizations, multinational corporations and other transnational interest groups. The field’s core concerns include the pursuit of cooperation to address global economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems, and the promotion of respect for human rights.
The study of IR includes various theoretical perspectives, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Some theories emphasize the importance of power and competition, and others stress the role of norms and identity in shaping behavior and interaction. Some posit that the development of international institutions can alter state power dynamics and lead to more cooperative patterns of behavior. Others contend that the world is ruled by Great Powers that use their military and economic resources to dominate other states.
Diplomacy is the formal means by which governments and other international actors interact with each other. It may be coercive, and often involves the exchange of threats or offers of concessions, and is carried out by accredited ambassadors and other envoys.
Long before modern states existed, humans engaged in diplomacy: messengers brought tokens of peace; tribes negotiated hunting grounds; and alliances were forged through gifts and shared rituals. These early interactions demonstrate a desire to find common ground and to connect across borders that persists today. Diplomatic relations are the scaled-up version of these earlier efforts, and understanding them helps us understand our human tendencies towards both cooperation and conflict.