What is the Difference Between International Relations and International Politics?

International relations and international politics are interrelated fields that study the interactions between nations, but they have different scopes and focuses. Here are the main differences between the two:

1. Scope: International relations is a broader field that encompasses various aspects of interactions between nations, including economic, social, and political relationships. In contrast, international politics is a subset of international relations and focuses more narrowly on specific areas such as foreign policymaking, diplomacy, and trade regulation.
2. Focus: International relations studies the political issues and foreign affairs affecting the world, touching on history, economics, anthropology, sociology, and politics. International politics, on the other hand, primarily analyzes the political relations and their operation among states.

Similarities between the two fields include:

1. Interconnectedness: International relations (IR) and international politics (IP) are interrelated with each other, as both fields study the interactions between nations and the factors that influence these interactions.
2. Interdisciplinary nature: Both fields draw on various disciplines, such as history, economics, anthropology, sociology, and politics, to understand the complexities of international interactions.

In summary, while international relations is a broader field that covers a wide array of disciplines and interactions between nations, international politics is a subset of international relations that focuses more narrowly on specific areas such as diplomacy, foreign policymaking, and trade regulation.

Comparative Table: International Relations vs International Politics

The main difference between international relations and international politics lies in their approaches and focus areas. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the two fields:

While international relations encompasses a wide array of disciplines, including political, economic, social, and cultural relationships, international politics is a subset of the study of international relations that focuses more narrowly on specific aspects such as foreign policymaking, diplomacy, and trade regulation.