Humanities and Social Sciences

School of Social Sciences

Politics and International Relations Program

What is Politics and International Relations?

Many people imagine that studying politics is just studying government. Government is important, but Politics is much more than this. Politics (sometimes called political science) is a diverse, sprawling and dynamic discipline, which is not defined by a particular method or approach, but by a concern with themes of human community, power, conflict and change.

By its nature, politics is an argumentative discipline. Students of politics look at how power is used in different systems of government, at the way states relate to one another in the international system and at the relationships between local, national and global institutions.

Politics compares the various institutions, processes, beliefs and cultures that societies have developed for settling conflict, ordering priorities and distributing wealth. Students must weigh up competing accounts of what actually happens as well as competing accounts of what ought to happen. The study of politics may be illuminated by knowledge drawn from other disciplines, such as anthropology, economics, history, sociology, law, psychology and philosophy.

It also concerns itself with practical understanding of the structures of power and governance which shape human lives and societies. This gives it a central position in intellectual life, and makes it an excellent complement to studies in Sociology, Anthropology, Law and Legal Studies, History, Philosophy and Economics.

Traditionally, the study of International Relations has been concerned with the relations of states, and international society was generally understood to mean the system of sovereign states. Attention has also focused on such actors as inter-governmental organizations, and a range of non-state actors, including transnational corporations. However, the accelerating pace of change in world affairs has seen the number and diversity of actors grow and the interactions become increasingly complex. International Relations can no longer be studied in isolation from domestic politics, culture, or economy. As a broad field of study, International Relations now draws on many disciplines. Though politics remains central other disciplines make a vitally important contribution, in particular history, law, economics, philosophy, psychology, anthropology and sociology. The study of International Relations is now best understood as the study of flows – flows of people, ideas, images, symbols, information, technology, money, capital and arms –across political, cultural and economic boundaries.

For more information on Politics and International Relations please see the following:

• La Trobe University Handbook
• The La Trobe Politics Society
• Master of International Policy Studies (MIPS) (2008 students only)
• Master of International Relations (new in 2009)
• School of Social Sciences Seminars
• Teaching
• Career Opportunities
• Community Engagement