Free International Relations Essay Examples & Topics

Free International Relations Essay Examples & Topics

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888 samples

The modern world is deeply interconnected. The relationships between nation-states, non-governmental organizations, and multinational corporations are quite complex. International relations (or IR for short) are exactly the study of those relationships. They are concerned with issues such as global politics and foreign policy, as well as many others.

To write an international relations essay, you should learn about different theoretical frameworks. These theories help understand the interactions between states, the purpose of policies, the history of international systems, etc. Some of the main types of international relations theories are as follows:

Realism deals with “real life.” It attempts to emphasize the importance of national and international security. The fields that are studied most within this theory are history, political science, and economics.

Constructivism analyzes constructed state identities. It is involved with cultural studies as well as sociology and social policy.

Finally, Marxism is the theory that mainly concerns itself with inequalities and socioeconomic imbalances. It is most critical of the international capitalist system and attempts to deconstruct class struggle and marginalization.

It is easy to see why international relations are important. With such a broad subject matter, it is also easy to get lost. That’s why our experts have compiled several international relations essay topics here. We have also collected useful advice and samples for you to study.

How to Pick an International Relations Essay Topic

An appropriate topic is a fundamental part of a successful international relations essay. Considering the possible ideas, selecting an area that is outside your expertise can be detrimental. Therefore, we have created a guide to making the right choice for your assignment.

To pick the right topic, try these steps:

  1. Brainstorm ideas.

One of the vital steps in writing any academic work is the first one. Before conducting any research, write down the ideas that are already present in your mind. Maybe you already have a particular area you want to talk about. For example, you can explore feminism or state sovereignty. Rely on what you know best and what interests you most.

  1. Check credible sources.

Once you have a general idea of what you want to focus on, it is time to find sources. Your best bet is to concentrate on works by established authors in the field of IR (e.g., Alexander Wendt). Of course, you may also rely on websites from well-known organizations. Look for reports and articles online. Check that the information you are acquiring is recent and up to date.

  1. Make sure your ideas aren’t too broad…

With IR being such a multidisciplinary field, it is easy to get swarmed by thoughts. Just remember that you still have a word limit to follow! Writing an essay on climate change and international relations may be way too extensive of a subject. Instead, focus on something feasible yet related – like the Green Theory.

  1. But also not too specific!

At the same time, choosing a topic that is way too narrow could prove a challenge in its own right. You could encounter trouble in trying to find credible sources. You may find yourself at a loss for what to do for your next step. In this case, you might want to change the topic before it’s too late!

  1. Strive to research.

If you have an idea that is interesting to you, this step will not be a problem. You need to be motivated to find enough valuable sources and write a high-quality essay. It helps to look at authors with differing points of view. This way, you’ll create a compelling argument.

These recommendations should help you write your IR essay. If you still have trouble choosing the right idea, let our topic generator do that for you.

13 International Relations Topics for Essay

Now that you know how to select the perfect topic for your essay, we can begin to do just that. Below you will find a list of 13 international relations essay topics. They will prove helpful in your homework or exam writing practice.

You can use these ideas:

  1. Green Theory – environmental action in international relations.
  2. How liberalism in British politics led to Brexit.
  3. Idealism vs. realism in global diplomacy.
  4. Technology as the silent factor in international relations.
  5. Economic reasons for the start of World War II.
  6. The International Monetary Fund in political economy.
  7. The end of the Cold War through the perspective of realist theory.
  8. A brief assessment of the International Law.
  9. Regulation of international non-governmental organizations.
  10. The role of soft and hard power in current international relations.
  11. Modern diplomacy between the governments of Russia and China.
  12. Feminist theories in the study of international relations.
  13. A Marxist critique of globalization.

As it stands, this list could go on forever. We hope that we managed to illustrate just how diverse the ideas for an international relations essay could be.

5 International Relations Essay Questions

Even after reading through this step-by-step guide and all the topics, you may still find yourself hesitating. This isn’t surprising. The ideas that must be swirling in your head right now would overwhelm anyone!

Here you will find 5 international relations essay questions that will help direct your workflow:

1. What is the difference between classical realism and neorealism?

Introduce realist theory and outline its evolution. Explain the main ideas behind classical realism and neorealism. What were the reasons for the shift between theories?

2. What is the impact of Brexit on the European Union’s foreign policy?

Explain the concept of Brexit. Evaluate the relationship of the European Union with the UK before Brexit. Using literature, illustrate the difference between the EU foreign policy before and after Brexit.

3. Do multinational corporations exploit developing countries?

Outline what makes a corporation multinational. What makes a country developing? Evaluate the relative harms and benefits of a multinational corporation settling in a developing country. Refer to Marxist theory for that purpose. What do you think can be done to minimize the harm?

4. How useful is the distinction between absolute and comparative advantage?

Summarize the theory behind the terms. Compare and contrast the concepts of absolute and comparative advantage. In your opinion, how important is the difference between the two notions?

5. Is constructivism a valid theory in international relations?

Illustrate the ideas behind constructivism and the evolution of the theory. Contrast constructivism against other well-known frameworks. Justify whether you think it is useful.

We are not underestimating the importance of an international relations essay. It is an extensive and complicated field of study. Despite that fact, we still hope that you managed to find this guide useful! Now proceed to look through some international relations essay examples below.

Thank you for reading!

888 Best Essay Examples on International Relations

“Clash of Ignorance” by Edward Said

The development of technologies and the improvement of business, education, and other services have led to the continuous intercourse between people of various cultures and religions. Huntington introduced the theory that the post-Cold War world [...]
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The Israeli – Palestinian Conflict

The purpose of this study is to establish the causes and the consequences of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. The question which this study seeks to address include what is the relationship between the conflict and [...]
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United Nations and World Peace

The rules and policies produced by the United Nations are not centered on a global involvement in de-weaponizing countries, as everyone is full of fear that a group of terrorists will be able to overtake [...]
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Geopolitics: The Middle East Shatterbelt

These conflicts were the areas of open confrontation of interests between the U.S.and the Soviet Union, as they backed up different sides and aimed at reducing the influence of opponents in this part of the [...]
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International Relations: Realism in the 21st Century

Even the balance of power theory has been found to be inaccurate and the tendency of making self serving adjustments to avoid criticisms has also contributed to the fact that realism in international relation is [...]
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United Nations Strengths and Weaknesses

The need to replace the League of Nations with the United Nations was largely inspired by the failure of the League of Nations to prevent the outbreak of war among nations.
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Difference Between Weak and Strong States by Krasner

He has given numerous examples of today's failing states and has compared them with the stronger and successful states of the world. Unfortunately, all these failures and weaker states are the poorest of the poor [...]
  • Pages: 2
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Peace and Conflict Resolution: External Intervention

This is mainly due to the root cause of the conflict in reference to internal and external factors and the possible consequences of the intervention to the parties involved, citizen and the world as a [...]
  • Pages: 3
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Neorealism and Traditional Realism

On the other hand, neo-realists say that the system is defined by anarchy and the reaction of states to anarchy is dependent on the power and capability of the state.
  • 5
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Do the Benefits of Globalization Outweigh the Costs?

Critics also argue that globalization has led to the spread of sweatshops and exploitation of workers from third world countries. However, critics of globalization argue that it has led to the erosion of national borders [...]
  • 2.8
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Nuclear Weapons Should Be Abolished

Without abolishing the nuclear weapons, the danger that will always be there is that more and more states will seek to obtain these weapons and this will eventually lead to an increase in the number [...]
  • 5
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Supra-state actors

After the end of the cold war between nations, the supremacy of state-centric political and military to dictate the local and international politics have severely diminished over the years.
  • Pages: 9
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Gaza-Israel Conflict: History and Portents

The Gaza-Israel conflict took a new dimension following the election of the Hamas Party in 2005. The topic "History of the Gaza-Israel Conflict" will focus on the issues surrounding the conflict experienced in Gaza.
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Indian Modernization and Westernization

The societal changes in India can be approached from a number of perspectives including Sanskritization, westernization, Little/Great Traditions, and the dialectical concept.
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Collective Security

The goal of the collective security was to institute peace and stability whereas the system of balance of power helped to maintain the status quo particularly that of the superpowers.
  • 1
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  • Words: 2062

Israel Palestine Conflict

The next phase of the conflict ranged from the year 1948 to the year 1967-a phase that was marked by the time the state of Israel was declared and the time the six days war [...]
  • 5
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  • Words: 1503

International Relations: Events Shaping the View

The winners of the war decided to form the United Nations Organization to prevent similar disasters in the future. The event would change the relationship between the United States of America and the Middle East.
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Visa-free Entry to all Countries

Visa-free entry to all countries would be of great benefit to them. Visa-free entry to all countries would also be of utmost benefit to governments.
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United States Foreign Policy

This has given it a dominant position in the world political arena and it has also influenced how it deals with other nations."The diplomatic affairs of this country are always under the guidance of the [...]
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The Democratic Peace Theory: Merits and Demerits

Chioza et al.say that among the reasons that makes it possible to intertwine the democratic peace theory with the liberal theory is that many countries are in dire need of peace. There is a good [...]
  • Pages: 10
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Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Under the treaty, the countries that had already developed nuclear weapons, "United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom", and other countries that had not developed the weapons signed the treaty to limit mobility [...]
  • 5
  • Pages: 8
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Arab Unity and Its Barriers and Obstacles

Some of these events include the "The Arab Revolt of 1916", "The Arab Congresses of the 1930s", "The League of Arab States of 1944", and the brief unity between Syria and Egypt.
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Russian Federation: International Relations

The information obtained from the sources will be thoroughly evaluated and shaped into a coherent research focusing on the peculiarities of the Russian foreign policy and the issues related to it.
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“Introduction to International Relations” by Michael Cox

Being prepared by the professionals who work at the London School of Economics and Political Science, the University of London International Programs, and the Political Science Department of the University of Prince Edward Island, it [...]
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Power and Interdependence

The first part of the article investigates the most important issues of the book which are relationship between power and interdependence, explanation of change in international regimes and the ideal type of complex interdependence.
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History of the Egypt Revolution in 2011

The government argued that these laws were meant to avoid the threat of terrorism in the country. The government officials who tried to fight corruption in the government were accused of fraud and harassed.
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International Relations: Alliances and Anarchy

The essence of this article is contained in the two hypotheses that the author describes at the onset of this discussion in which he lays the foundation that the rest of the theories are based [...]
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“Who Is a Refugee?” by Andrew E. Shacknove

He draws a conclusion that the refugee status could be granted solely to persons whose government does not protect their basic needs, who have no other way but to seek international restitution of such needs, [...]
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Maritime Piracy

Maritime Piracy as Security and Economic Threat Among the least understood international security danger is the struggle to contain piracy in the Gulf of Aden, Somalia, and the Indian Ocean.
  • 1
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The US-China relations

Today it is rather difficult to discuss the US-China relations from one point of view with accentuating only positive aspects of the countries' relationship which can lead to the effective cooperation or with focusing only [...]
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The Invention of Development

On being sworn in as the president of the United States, Rist notes, Truman introduced the term, underdevelopment, as a new concept of regarding the impoverished regions of the world.
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Australian Foreign Policy

For instance, Australia has used this label to advance its claims in matters of trade with the regional trade blocks; however, operating at the center of the most powerful and the less powerful, Australia's middle [...]
  • Pages: 6
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Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Foreign Policy

In regards to the CIA, the policy empowered the CIA in doing the spying mission of nations or leaders allied to communism. On the U.S.economy, the policy aimed to protect the economy from the adverse [...]
  • Pages: 2
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The Berlin Conference and Its Results

As a result of the conference, certain decisions were made regarding the division of Africa among the European countries, and the countries' rights to their zones of influence and colonial agreements between them were recognized.
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Ivo Andric’s Bridge on the Drina Review

The main historical event with which the literary work begins is the heyday of the Ottoman Empire and ends with the events that affected the beginning of the First World War.
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The Vital Role of Diplomacy in International Relations

Diplomacy can be defined as the process of communication and negotiation between official representatives of a state or territory with representatives of another party with the purpose to minimize conflict and maximize peaceful cooperation such [...]
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Severe Problem of Congo

At the end of the day, cruel actions in the mineral resource industry are relevant not only to local people but to the world population as well.
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United States Engagement in the Middle East

America has vast interests in the stability of the region for the simple fact that the Middle East is at a very strategic and focal position to meet some of the interests of the American [...]
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World Systems Theory by Immanuel Wallerstein

The system with the core and periphery characteristics was developed by Immanuel Wallerstein and is called World Systems Theory, and it includes the third group of states recognized as semi-peripheral that possess the qualities of [...]
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Nationalism in International Relations

Given this interplay of international relations and nationalism, this paper examines the view that nationalism has been and continues to be the most significant force in international relations.
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World Food Program

Addressing risks to food and safety Food safety and public health entail core issues to the policies of the WFP in addressing food security across the globe.
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The Truman Doctrine

It further sought to maintain and expand its territorial control over Poland in disregard to the Yalta Accord which granted it control over Eastern Poland and left the North and West to the Polish government [...]
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Pakistan Versus The USA

Gladstone argues that the Pakistan's support of unlawful terrorist groups such as the Taliban and the Haqqani have undermined the efforts of the United States of America to restore peace and calm in the Middle [...]
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Global Food Crisis: Political Economy Perspective

In effect, the loss of power to international institutions, decentralization of resources and privatization of powers are political economic factors that have worsened political and economic stability of developing countries making them more vulnerable to [...]
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NATO’S Border with Russia News Story and Maslow Theory

From this article, I learned about the complex relationship between NATO and Russia and the strategic importance of Finland's decision to join NATO. Overall, the article emphasizes the influence of NATO's presence and the tension [...]
  • Pages: 1
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Liberal International Order’s Existence and Future

However, the primary assumption of these ideas is the existence of a liberal international order, which refers to a system of interconnected, regulated connections founded on political, economic, and international liberalism. To conclude, the idea [...]
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Discussion: Definition of a Great Power

Both cooperative and conflictive behaviors of great powers within the international system are discussed in the literature on great-power foreign policy.
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International Relations: Theory, Policy, and Governance

On the other hand, liberalists will argue that the US strives to establish a democratic environment in the Middle East and positive economic developments. Similarly, it is reasonable to adopt strategies and theoretical concepts that [...]
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The United States as a Hegemonic Country

The world order should be created under the supervision of one specific power. While the political regime depends on the elements of the international order, the stability in the world should depend on hegemony.
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Discussion of State Security Enforcement

A state's quest for security can be presented as stabilizing in the case of a solid internal socio-economic foundation. While the term is the main determining factor in international politics, it can be viewed as [...]
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The Middle East: The Humanitarian Disaster in Syria

However, Kuwait is not an active purchaser of American weapons and is more considerate of the spending of the country. Its climate is becoming drier and hotter, leading to the shrinkage of the Euphrates and [...]
  • Pages: 1
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Protectionism in the Age of Globalization

On the one hand, globalization erases many international boundaries to stabilize fair trade and cooperation, and protectionism is necessary to maintain the national identity and economic prosperity of each country separately.
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United Arab Emirates and New Zealand Cooperation

According to the UEA Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, UAE and New Zealand are united in the common interest and similarity of Emirati Bedouin and M ori culture.
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U.S. Foreign Policy after the Midterm Elections

Moreover, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming presidential election in the United States, all of these changes will have a lasting impact on the behavior of other political actors.
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International Relations: Atomic Bombs and Cold War

The dropping of the nuclear bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima by the United States directly contributed to the initiation of the Cold War. The utilization of the bombs led the Soviet Union to see the [...]
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 280

Panama and United States Relations

Due to its strategic position and importance in international commerce, Panama's success is crucial to the welfare and security of the United States.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 679

Four Schoolmasters and American Foreign Policy

While they are optimistic about the advantages that will come along with the expansion of trade and the mechanisms that sustain it, they are conservative in the view that they deny the universal applicability, or [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1204

Osama Bin Laden: Assassination vs. Trial

In my thoughts, I believe that the decision to hunt and kill bin Laden was driven by nationalist sentiments due to the terror war and not the considerations of what was morally and constitutionally right.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 330

The US Espionage on Friends or Allies

Thus, for the US as a leading political actor, spying on allies on friends is justified if there is a visible necessity that provides it with an advantage in the international arena.
  • Pages: 1
  • Words: 328

Israel’s and Turkey’s Foreign and Defense Policies

This report aims to explore the characteristics and trends of earlier mentioned in international relations and to analyze the peculiarities of interaction with neighboring countries and the existing problems in them.
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 913

The Role of Faith in the US-Middle East Foreign Policy

Moreover, the belief that the US was the nation assigned the role of fulfilling God's promise to his people and the whole of humanity encouraged them to contribute to the well-being of settlers and natives [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 957

Presidential Leadership: Diplomatic History

The development of the relations between the United States and the countries in the Middle East is a continuous process, covering the presidential terms of many political leaders.
  • Pages: 7
  • Words: 1951

Putin’s 2007 Munich Speech and Policies of the West

However, the signs of the impending catastrophe were visible long before the outlaw recognition of the so-called "LNR and DNR" and even before the launch of this Donbas issue and unacceptable Crimea annexation.
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 597

The Dominance of Foreign Affairs on the US Agenda

Ultimately, the analysis of The New York Times shows that foreign affairs are currently the primary topics in the discussion. For instance, the Russian-Ukrainian War, political turmoil in China, and protests in Iran are on [...]
  • Pages: 2
  • Words: 396

The Three Baltic States With the Same Values

Towards the end of the century, the Baltic states were among the first to demonstrate increased resistance and desire for independence, which eventually led to the collapse of the USSR and Russian troops withdrawing from [...]
  • Pages: 4
  • Words: 1128

Crucial Functions of State Borders

For instance, while the borders within the EU might seem quite similar to those between the U.S.and Mexico and the U.S.and Canada, there are significant differences in how the purpose of these borders is perceived [...]
  • Pages: 3
  • Words: 896

Israel-Gulf Cooperation Council Relations

The political discourses on the Middle East have remained an interesting subject among scholars due to the uniqueness of the geopolitical relations among the Arab nations and with Israel and the West.
  • Pages: 13
  • Words: 3506

Vietnam and China’s Tense Relations

The separation of the self and the subjects outside of it is central to constructivism, where changes in the status quo are seen as a threat.
  • Pages: 2
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