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The Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) examines research topics surrounding global studies, international relations, & foreign policy issues.

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168 Current International Relations Research Topics For Any Level

Are you a student looking for intriguing international relations research topics? Look no further! In this blog post, we have created a list of 168 unique and thought-provoking research topics in the field of international relations that should help students get an A+ on their next paper.

Whether you’re studying political science, international affairs or related disciplines, this comprehensive list covers a wide range of fascinating subjects. From global governance to security issues, diplomacy, human rights, and more, these topics are designed to inspire your research and help you delve deeper into the complexities of international relations. So, grab your notepad and get ready to explore these captivating research ideas!

A Word On International Relations Theses

International relations is the study of interactions between nations and global actors. It examines politics, economics, security, and culture, exploring how countries cooperate, conflict and shape global dynamics. If you’re about to start working on a thesis in international relations and you are wondering what to include in your paper, here is a short explanation of each of the mandatory chapters:

Introduction: The opening section that presents the research problem, objectives, and significance of the study. Literature Review: A comprehensive review of existing scholarly works related to the research topic, providing a context for the study. Methodology: Describes the research design, data collection methods, and analytical techniques used to address the research questions or hypotheses. Findings: Presents the empirical results or outcomes of the research, often supported by data, analysis, and interpretation. Discussion: Analyzes and interprets the findings in relation to the research objectives, drawing connections to existing literature and providing insights. Conclusion: Summarizes the main findings, highlights the contributions to the field, and suggests avenues for future research. References: Lists all the sources cited in the thesis following a specific citation style (e.g., APA, MLA).

Now, it’s time to deliver on our promise and give you the list of international relations research paper topics. Choose the one you like the most:

Easy International Relations Research Topics

Explore our list of easy international relations research topics that will help you understand global politics and analyze the dynamics of international relations with ease

• The impact of globalization on state sovereignty and international relations
• Analyzing the role of non-state actors in global governance structures
• The influence of soft power in shaping international relations and diplomacy
• Exploring the relationship between human rights and international relations
• Examining the dynamics of economic interdependence in international relations
• The role of international organizations in promoting peace and security
• Assessing the impact of climate change on international relations and cooperation
• Analyzing the role of regional integration in shaping global politics
• The implications of cyber warfare for international relations and national security
• Examining the challenges and opportunities of humanitarian intervention in international relations
• Analyzing the role of ideology in shaping state behavior in international relations
• Exploring the impact of migration and refugee crises on international relations
• Assessing the role of international law in resolving conflicts and promoting peace
• Investigating the role of intelligence agencies in shaping international relations

International Relations Thesis Topics

Our wide range of international relations thesis topics will guide you towards developing a strong research question, conducting in-depth analysis, and contributing to the field with your original research:

• Power dynamics and the balance of power in international relations
• Exploring the role of diplomacy in conflict resolution and peacebuilding
• The impact of nuclear proliferation on international security and non-proliferation regimes
• Analyzing the role of international institutions in managing global crises
• The influence of nationalism on interstate relations and regional cooperation
• Examining the role of international norms and human rights in shaping foreign policy
• Assessing the impact of economic globalization on state sovereignty in international relations
• The role of social media in shaping public opinion and international relations
• Exploring the concept of hegemony and its implications for international relations
• The role of gender in international relations and its impact on policy-making
• Analyzing the role of intelligence agencies in shaping international relations
• The implications of emerging technologies on international security and arms control
• Examining the role of media and propaganda in international conflicts and public opinion
• The impact of regional integration on state behavior and international cooperation

Advanced International Relations Topics For Research

Dive into complex issues, explore cutting-edge theories, and unravel the intricate dynamics of global affairs with our advanced international relations topics for research:

• China’s global rise and its power dynamics
• Non-traditional security threats in international relations
• AI and warfare: Implications for international security
• Climate change, conflict, and forced migration in international relations
• Religion and politics in international relations
• Populism’s impact on global governance and international relations
• Social movements and civil society in shaping international relations
• Pandemics and international cooperation: Implications for global governance
• Cultural diplomacy and soft power in international relations
• Information warfare and disinformation in international relations
• Regional powers shaping global security dynamics
• Responsibility to protect and humanitarian interventions in international relations
• Resource scarcity and environmental degradation in international relations
• Migration and refugee crises’ impact on global stability

International Relations Research Questions

Our carefully curated list of international relations research questions will inspire critical thinking and promote meaningful discussions:

• How does power transition theory explain shifts in global power dynamics?
• What are the implications of the rise of non-state actors on traditional state-centric international relations theories?
• How do identity politics and nationalism shape interstate conflicts?
• What are the factors influencing state compliance with international human rights norms?
• How does globalization impact state sovereignty?
• What are the challenges of multilateralism in addressing global issues?
• How does public opinion influence state behavior in international relations?
• What are the causes and consequences of failed states in international relations?
• How does the distribution of power in international institutions affect their legitimacy?
• What are the implications of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, on international security?
• How do regional conflicts and security dilemmas impact regional integration efforts?
• What are the root causes of terrorism?
• How does economic interdependence shape interstate relations and global governance structures?
• What are the challenges of global environmental governance in addressing climate change?

International Relations Paper Topics

Choose one of our international relations paper topics that resonate with your interests and embark on an enriching research journey:

• The role of ideology in shaping state behavior in international relations
• Analyzing the impact of economic sanctions on diplomatic relations between countries
• The role of media and propaganda in influencing public opinion in international conflicts
• Exploring the relationship between globalization and cultural identity in international relations
• The implications of cybersecurity threats on national security and international relations
• Assessing the role of intelligence agencies in gathering and analyzing international intelligence
• Analyzing the impact of regional organizations on regional conflicts and cooperation in international relations
• The influence of international trade agreements on global economic and political relations
• Exploring the dynamics of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in international relations
• The role of international law in resolving territorial disputes and promoting peace
• Non-state actors in international relations: Influence and challenges
• Conflict resolution mechanisms: Negotiation, mediation, and peacebuilding approaches
• Diplomatic immunity: Balancing immunity with accountability in international relations
• The impact of global pandemics on international cooperation and security

Engaging Topic Ideas About International Relations

Are you seeking engaging and captivating topic ideas for your international relations research? Choose one of these engaging topic ideas about international relations:

• Global governance and international organizations in addressing global challenges.
• Nationalism’s impact on international relations and global cooperation.
• Soft power in shaping international perceptions and relations.
• Regional conflicts’ implications for global stability and security.
• Cyber warfare: Assessing evolving cyber threats in international relations.
• Media’s role in international relations: Influence, propaganda, and disinformation.
• Economic interdependence: Opportunities and risks in global relations.
• Diplomacy in the digital age: Challenges of virtual diplomacy.
• Global migration and refugee crises: Humanitarian and political dimensions.
• Human rights in international relations: Promoting universal rights.
• Terrorism’s impact on global security and counterterrorism efforts.
• Environmental diplomacy: Addressing global environmental challenges.
• Religion’s role in international relations.
• Regional power dynamics: Influence of major powers in different regions

Interesting International Relations Research Paper Topics

Uncover fascinating research paper topics in international relations that will captivate your readers and showcase your analytical skills. Use one of these interesting international relations research paper topics:

• Populism’s rise and its impact on international relations and global governance
• Climate change’s geopolitical implications: Conflicts, migrations, and resource competition
• Hybrid warfare: Analyzing blurred lines between conventional and unconventional threats
• Technology’s impact on diplomacy and the future of diplomatic practices
• Nuclear energy diplomacy: Balancing peaceful uses and proliferation concerns
• Soft power and cultural industries’ influence in international relations
• Politics of humanitarian aid: Challenges and ethical considerations
• Media framing’s impact on public opinion in international conflicts
• International cooperation in space exploration and its geopolitical implications
• Diaspora communities’ role in shaping international relations and global politics
• Migration policies and human rights: Balancing border control and human dignity
• Global health governance: Cooperation, challenges, and pandemic responses
• Environmental peacebuilding: Addressing conflicts over natural resources and degradation
• Economic sanctions: Effectiveness and ethical implications in international relations

Political Science Dissertation Topics

Our list of political science dissertation topics will provide you with a solid foundation for developing a unique research proposal and making a significant contribution to the field:

• The role of political ideologies in foreign policy and international relations.
• National security strategies and state behavior in international relations.
• Global governance and collective decision-making challenges in international institutions.
• Public opinion’s influence on foreign policy and international relations.
• Identity politics and intergroup relations in international contexts.
• Humanitarian interventions and the responsibility to protect.
• Geopolitics and resource conflicts: Strategic importance of natural resources.
• International law’s role in shaping state behavior and resolving conflicts.
• Comparative political systems in international relations.
• Political leadership’s impact on diplomatic relations and cooperation.
• International development assistance: Aid effectiveness and challenges.
• Non-state actors in global politics: Influence, networks, power dynamics.
• Intelligence agencies in international intelligence gathering and analysis.
• Political parties and foreign policy shaping

Current International Relations Topics For Research Paper

Stay up to date with the latest developments in global politics by exploring our selection of current international relations topics for research paper writing :

• Emerging technologies’ impact on global security and power dynamics.
• Transnational threats: Terrorism, crime, and cyber challenges in focus.
• Regional integration in globalization: Achievements, limitations, and prospects.
• Trade wars: Implications for global economy and cooperation.
• Disinformation and fake news: Influence on international politics and public opinion.
• Climate change negotiations: Progress and challenges in combating global warming
• Cybersecurity and emerging threats in international relations.
• Regional power dynamics in the Middle East: Implications for global security
• Global responses to the COVID-19 pandemic: Cooperation and challenges
• Climate change mitigation and adaptation in international policy
• Rising nationalism and its impact on international cooperation
• Humanitarian crisis in Yemen: International responses and challenges
• Technology and the future of warfare: Implications for global security
• The Belt and Road Initiative: Assessing its impact on international relations

Awesome Research Topics For International Relations

Our awesome research topics for international relations allow you to explore diverse areas of global politics and contribute to the field with your exceptional research:

• NGOs’ role in shaping international policies and agendas
• Humanitarian interventions and the responsibility to protect: Effectiveness and ethics
• Cybersecurity challenges in international relations: Risks and responses
• Global migration governance: Policies and implications
• Globalization vs national sovereignty: Impacts on state behavior
• China’s Belt and Road Initiative: Geopolitical influence and challenges
• Nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation: Effectiveness of treaties
• Gender in international relations: Impact of norms and policies
• Post-colonial perspectives in international relations: Power dynamics and legacies
• Climate justice and international cooperation: Addressing climate change
• Regional organizations in global governance and international relations
• Politics of humanitarian intervention: Strategies and outcomes
• Political economy of international trade: Impact of policies and agreements
• Populism’s impact on democracy and international relations

Controversial International Relations Topics

Delve into the realm of controversy and discourse with our thought-provoking controversial international relations topics:

• Drones in targeted killings: Legal and ethical implications
• Nuclear energy and non-proliferation: Benefits and risks
• Intervention in state sovereignty: Legitimacy and consequences
• Ethics of economic sanctions: Effectiveness and impact on civilians
• Cyber warfare and international norms: Regulating cyber conflicts
• Climate change’s impact on national security and conflicts
• Intelligence agencies in covert operations and international relations
• Politics of humanitarian aid: Motivations and challenges
• Ethics of military intervention: Justifications and consequences
• Politics of regime change: Motivations and implications
• Media bias’s impact on international perceptions and diplomacy
• Private military companies: Challenges and accountability
• Politics of disarmament and arms control: Progress and challenges
• Corporate interests’ influence on foreign policy and relations

Best International Relations Topics For 2023

Stay ahead of the curve with our selection of the best international relations topics for 2023. These carefully curated topics reflect the current trends, emerging challenges and pressing issues:

• COVID-19 pandemic’s implications on global politics and international relations
• Rise of populism and its impact on democracy and international cooperation
• Cybersecurity challenges in a hyper-connected world: Risks and responses
• Future of international cooperation in addressing global challenges and conflicts
• Climate change and security: Implications for international relations and stability
• Evolving role of regional powers in shaping global politics and relations
• Technological advancements’ impact on state power and international relations
• Global governance reform: Restructuring international institutions
• Social media’s role in shaping international perceptions and political movements
• Challenges and prospects of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation
• Intersection of artificial intelligence and international relations
• Impact of trade wars on global economic relations and cooperation
• Geopolitical tensions in the Arctic: Resource competition and influence
• Future of multilateralism: Relevance and effectiveness in a changing world

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How do I choose a research topic in international relations?

Consider your interests, current events, and gaps in existing literature to identify an area of focus. Brainstorm potential topics and ensure they align with your research objectives.

What makes a strong international relations research paper?

A strong research paper includes a well-defined research question, solid theoretical framework, rigorous analysis, credible sources, and logical structure. It should also contribute to the existing body of knowledge.

How can I narrow down my international relations research topic?

Consider specific regions, actors, theories, or policy areas within international relations. Narrowing down your topic will allow for a more focused and manageable research paper.

Can I use case studies in my international relations research paper?

Yes, case studies can be valuable in providing empirical evidence and in-depth analysis. They help illustrate theoretical concepts and offer real-world examples to support your arguments.

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International Relations

International Relations Research Paper Topics

• Realism and its role in contemporary international relations
• The impact of globalization on international relations
• Human rights and their place in international relations
• The role of international institutions in shaping global politics
• The concept of sovereignty and its implications in international relations
• International trade and its impact on global politics
• The role of non-state actors in international relations
• The dynamics of conflict resolution in international relations
• The role of diplomacy in international relations
• Nuclear proliferation and its impact on global politics
• The politics of international development and aid
• The role of religion in international relations
• The impact of technology on international relations
• The concept of power in international relations
• The relationship between international law and global politics
• Global environmental politics and climate change
• The politics of humanitarian intervention
• The role of women in international relations
• The impact of colonialism on contemporary international relations
• Regionalism and its impact on global politics
• The role of the United Nations in shaping global politics
• The impact of terrorism on international relations
• The politics of foreign aid and development
• The role of identity in international relations
• The concept of the balance of power in international relations
• The relationship between nationalism and international relations
• The impact of economic sanctions on global politics
• The role of human security in international relations
• The politics of international migration
• The relationship between international relations and global health
• The role of ideology in international relations
• The impact of social media on global politics
• The politics of international energy policy
• The role of intelligence agencies in international relations
• The relationship between international relations and international business
• The impact of non-state actors on global politics
• The role of international criminal law in global politics
• The politics of peacekeeping and peacebuilding
• The impact of nationalism on global politics
• The role of cultural diplomacy in international relations
• The relationship between international relations and human trafficking
• The politics of humanitarian aid and relief
• The impact of multilateralism on global politics
• The role of international trade agreements in shaping global politics
• The relationship between international relations and international law enforcement
• The impact of refugees and displaced persons on global politics
• The politics of international arms control
• The role of soft power in international relations
• The impact of populism on global politics
• The relationship between international relations and cybersecurity

One of the key themes in the study of International Relations is the idea of power. Power is defined as the ability to influence others to do what one wants. It is a fundamental concept in the field, and many theories of International Relations are based on different conceptions of power. For example, realist theory, which is one of the dominant theories in the field, views power as the ability to dominate others and maintain security. In contrast, liberal theory emphasizes the importance of cooperation and interdependence between states, rather than the exercise of power.

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Another important concept in International Relations is sovereignty, which refers to the authority of a state to govern itself without interference from other states. The principle of sovereignty is a cornerstone of the modern international system, and it has been the subject of much debate and controversy. While states have the right to govern themselves, they also have responsibilities to the international community, including the promotion of human rights, the protection of the environment, and the maintenance of international peace and security.

International Relations also involves the study of international organizations, which play a crucial role in global governance. The United Nations (UN) is the most prominent international organization, and it has been instrumental in the promotion of peace and security, the protection of human rights, and the development of international law. Other international organizations, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), have also had a significant impact on the global economy.

In addition to international organizations, international law is another important area of study in International Relations. International law is a system of rules and principles that govern the behavior of states and other actors in the international system. It covers a wide range of issues, including human rights, international trade, and the use of force. International law is enforced through various mechanisms, including international courts and tribunals, and it has been critical in shaping the current international political landscape.

Finally, globalization is another important theme in International Relations. Globalization refers to the interconnectedness of the world and the increasing integration of economies, cultures, and societies. It has had a profound impact on the international system, and it has given rise to a wide range of new challenges, including transnational terrorism, environmental degradation, and the spread of infectious diseases. Globalization has also led to increased competition and cooperation among states, and it has reshaped the distribution of power in the international system.

In conclusion, International Relations is a complex and multifaceted field of study that covers a wide range of issues and concepts. It involves the study of power, sovereignty, international organizations, international law, and globalization. The field has a rich history and has been shaped by various theories and approaches, including realism, liberalism, and constructivism. International Relations is essential in understanding the dynamics of the international system and how states and other actors interact with each other.

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40+ Best International Relations Research Topics: Global Dynamics Unveiled

• Post author By admin
• November 11, 2023

Explore the complex landscape of global affairs with our curated list of International Relations Research Topics. Delve into pressing issues, emerging trends, and fresh perspectives that shape the world stage.

Uncover the latest insights and navigate the intricacies of international diplomacy through innovative research avenues.

Embarking on the captivating odyssey of “International Relations Research Topics” is akin to donning the explorer’s hat in a vast, interconnected world.

As our globe tightens its bonds, the study of international relations becomes not just relevant but essential. In this article, we embark on a journey that doesn’t merely skim the surface; it delves deep into the beating heart of themes that intrigue scholars and mold the very narrative of our shared global drama.

Imagine traversing the echoes of historical events, resonating through the grand halls of diplomacy. Picture grappling with the contemporary puzzles that carve the geopolitical landscape, and unraveling the theoretical frameworks that scaffold our comprehension of international relations.

From the intricate dance of negotiation to the mosaic of global governance complexities, we’re set to embark on a thrilling adventure, spanning disciplines, cultures, and the sands of time.

So, fasten your seatbelts as we navigate the twists and turns of international relations research. Join us in dissecting real-world challenges through illuminating case studies and peering into the crystal ball of future trends that will shape the diplomatic stage.

The realm of international relations research isn’t just a scholarly pursuit; it’s a journey into the heart of human interaction on the international stage, a quest that promises both revelations and solutions.

Get ready for an expedition that transcends borders and plunges into the pulse of our shared global destiny.

Together, let’s unravel the dynamic and ever-evolving world of international relations research—a journey that promises not just academic enlightenment but a deeper understanding of the threads that weave our world together.

Table of Contents

International Relations Research Topics

Check out international relations research topics:-

Theories of International Relations

Power Dynamics Unveiled : Investigate the role of power in international relations and how realist perspectives shape foreign policy.

The Promise of Cooperation : Explore the principles of liberalism and how they influence diplomatic collaboration and international organizations.

Constructivism

Beyond Structures : Delve into the impact of ideas, norms, and identities on international relations, challenging traditional structural perspectives.

Critical Theories

Deconstructing Narratives : Examine critical approaches to IR, questioning established norms and advocating for social justice in global relations.

Foreign Policy

The united states’ foreign policy.

Evolution and Trends : Analyze the historical shifts and current trends in U.S. foreign policy, exploring its global implications.

China’s Foreign Policy

Rising Dragon : Investigate China’s geopolitical strategy, economic diplomacy, and its role in shaping international relations.

Russia’s Foreign Policy

Eurasian Ambitions : Explore Russia’s geopolitical objectives, alliances, and its impact on regional and global stability.

The European Union’s Foreign Policy

Unity in Diversity : Assess the coherence and challenges of the EU’s foreign policy, considering its unique supranational structure.

The Foreign Policy of the Middle East

Navigating Complexity : Examine the intricate foreign policies of Middle Eastern nations, addressing regional conflicts and global interactions.

International Law

The role of international law in the international system.

Legal Frameworks : Investigate the impact and effectiveness of international legal systems in governing state behavior.

The Sources of International Law

Foundations Unveiled : Explore the historical and contemporary sources influencing the development of international legal principles.

The Enforcement of International Law

Legal Realities : Assess the mechanisms and challenges in enforcing international law, addressing issues of compliance and accountability.

The Development of International Law

Evolutionary Trajectories : Trace the historical evolution of international law, analyzing its adaptive nature in response to global changes.

The Future of International Law

Innovations and Challenges : Speculate on the future directions and innovations in international law amidst evolving global dynamics.

International Organizations

The united nations.

Global Governance : Examine the role, challenges, and effectiveness of the United Nations in addressing global issues and conflicts.

The World Trade Organization

Trade Diplomacy : Assess the impact of the WTO on global trade dynamics, exploring its role in shaping economic relations.

The International Monetary Fund

Economic Stabilization : Investigate the IMF’s influence on global financial stability, economic development, and its role in financial crises.

The World Bank

Development Finance : Examine the World Bank’s role in funding development projects and its impact on global economic disparities.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Collective Security : Analyze NATO’s evolving role in ensuring collective defense and maintaining regional and global security.

International Security

Nuclear weapons.

Arms Control Dilemmas : Explore the challenges of nuclear disarmament, arms control agreements, and the geopolitical implications of nuclear arsenals.

Global Threats : Investigate the causes, dynamics, and counterterrorism strategies in response to global terrorist threats.

Cyberwarfare

Virtual Battlefields : Examine the evolving landscape of cyber threats, state-sponsored cyber operations, and diplomatic responses.

Climate Change

Security Implications : Assess the security challenges posed by climate change, including resource scarcity, migration, and conflict risks.

Global Health Security : Explore the intersection of international relations and global health, focusing on pandemic preparedness and response.

International Development

The causes of poverty.

Structural Analysis : Investigate the root causes of poverty globally, examining the role of economic, social, and political factors.

The Impact of Globalization

Global Dynamics : Analyze the effects of globalization on economic, social, and political dimensions, considering both positive and negative impacts.

The Role of Aid

Humanitarian Assistance : Examine the effectiveness of international aid in promoting development, addressing crises, and reducing poverty.

The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

Civil Society Actors : Assess the contributions and challenges of NGOs in international development and diplomacy.

The Future of International Development

Sustainable Goals : Speculate on the future trajectories of international development, considering global challenges and innovative solutions.

International Political Economy

The global economy.

Economic Governance : Evaluate the structures and governance of the global economy, addressing issues of economic inequality and trade imbalances.

Trade Diplomacy Trends : Investigate emerging trends in global trade diplomacy, trade agreements, and their impact on national economies.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) : Examine the role of FDI in shaping international economic relations, focusing on its impact on host and home countries.

Financial Governance : Assess the role of international financial institutions and governance mechanisms in maintaining global financial stability.

Development

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) : Explore the progress and challenges in achieving the SDGs, considering their impact on global economic relations.

International Environmental Politics

Global Responses : Evaluate international efforts to address climate change, analyzing agreements, policies, and the role of state and non-state actors.

Biodiversity

Conservation Challenges : Examine global initiatives and challenges in preserving biodiversity, considering the impact on ecosystems and human societies.

Cross-Border Impacts : Analyze international frameworks and strategies for addressing transboundary pollution, emphasizing cooperative solutions.

Water Resources

Hydro-Diplomacy : Investigate the geopolitical dimensions of water scarcity, transboundary water management, and the potential for conflict or cooperation.

Global Energy Security : Assess the geopolitics of energy resources, exploring the impact on international relations and national security.

International Human Rights

The universal declaration of human rights.

70 Years On : Reflect on the achievements and challenges in upholding the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Role of Human Rights Organizations

Advocacy and Impact : Assess the contributions and limitations of human rights organizations in promoting and protecting human rights globally.

The Challenges of Human Rights Protection

Contemporary Dilemmas : Examine current challenges and dilemmas in the protection of human rights, considering cultural, political, and legal perspectives.

The Future of Human Rights

Emerging Harmonies : Identify and analyze emerging human rights issues globally and explore diplomatic strategies for advancing human rights advocacy worldwide.

Future Trends

Check out the future trends:-

Diplomacy in the Digital Age

Cybersecurity Adventures: In an era of technological leaps, the specter of cyber threats looms large. Future international relations will be in the trenches, figuring out the playbook for norms, treaties, and group huddles to fend off cyber villains and safeguard our digital fortresses.

Guardians of Global Wellness

Pandemic Odyssey: The seismic impact of COVID-19 sounded the alarm for robust global health governance.

Imagine this: a future where nations join hands in a symphony of collaboration, fine-tuning pandemic preparedness, orchestrating vaccine ballets, and addressing health inequalities on the grand stage of global solidarity.

Environmental Diplomacy

Climate Crusaders: Brace yourself for a climate showdown! As the world heats up, international relations will groove to the beat of urgent climate action.

Imagine a dance floor where negotiations, agreements, and collaborations bust moves to mitigate environmental threats and jive with the rhythm of a changing climate.

Regional Power Play

Shapeshifting Dynamics: A plot twist is brewing as regional powers in Asia and Africa steal the spotlight, reshaping the global stage.

The future of international relations will be a blockbuster, navigating the rise of these regional superheroes alongside the traditional titans of global influence.

Tech-Driven Humanitarianism

Aid’s Tech Symphony: When humanitarian crises strike, enter the tech virtuosos! Drones, artificial intelligence, and other tech marvels take center stage, orchestrating a symphony of innovation to respond to crises and deliver assistance with superhero efficiency.

Cosmic Diplomacy

Space Odyssey Unleashed: As we soar into the cosmos, international relations will boldly go where no treaties have gone before.

Picture diplomatic efforts navigating the vast expanse of space, establishing norms, agreements, and governance frameworks for our cosmic endeavors.

Economic Resilience Revolution:

Economic Tango Redefined: The aftermath of global economic shocks reshapes the dance floor of economic alliances and trade relationships.

Future international relations will spin into action, crafting moves to enhance economic resilience and foster cooperation in an ever-changing economic landscape.

Digital Frontier Governance:

Regulating the Digital Wild West: Get ready for a showdown in the digital saloon! The digital realm takes the spotlight in international relations, where future trends include crafting international regulations, treaties, and norms to tame the digital frontier, ensuring data privacy and the ethical use of emerging technologies.

Migration Marvels:

Demographic Jigsaw: Demographic changes and migration challenges become key players in the international relations saga.

Nations collaborate on an epic script, developing comprehensive policies that address the impacts of migration on societies, economies, and the geopolitics stage.

Multilateral Makeover

Global Governance Remix: The future sees multilateral institutions donning a new look to tackle contemporary challenges.

Efforts to reform and adapt global governance structures take center stage, promising an international relations blockbuster that shapes the world’s destiny.

What are good topics for research in international relations?

Check out some of good topics for research in international relations:-

Digital Battlegrounds: Navigating Cybersecurity Challenges in Global Diplomacy

Unraveling the influence of cyber threats on shaping diplomatic relations and the imperative for a united front in the realm of cybersecurity.

China’s Global Odyssey: Decoding the Belt and Road Initiative

Embarking on an exploration of the economic, political, and geopolitical ripple effects stemming from China’s grand infrastructure and development venture.

Angels in Conflict: Humanitarian Interventions Unveiled

Delving into the intricacies of international humanitarian interventions, weighing their effectiveness against the ethical backdrop in conflict-ridden territories.

Climate Avengers: Global Governance Confronts Climate Change

Surveying the battlefield of climate change, evaluating the triumphs and tribulations of international agreements and organizations in fostering sustainability.

Beyond Borders: The Dance of Non-State Actors in Global Affairs

Spotlighting the silent influencers – NGOs, multinational corporations, and other non-state actors – and deciphering their impact on the world stage.

Refugee Realities: An International Collaboration Saga

Unmasking the challenges and collaborative opportunities on the global stage as nations grapple with the escalating refugee crisis .

Energy Chess: Geopolitics in Resource Distribution

Tracing the geopolitical moves dictated by the control and distribution of energy resources, a chess game shaping international relations.

Populism’s Echo: Global Diplomacy in the Age of Charismatic Leaders

Analyzing the crescendo of populist movements and leaders, exploring their influence on international relations, alliances, and diplomatic dynamics.

Nuclear Shadows: Proliferation Puzzles and Global Security

Assessing the shadow cast by nuclear weapons proliferation and unraveling strategies for global disarmament.

Multilateralism Unveiled: Charting the Future Course

Lifting the curtain on the role and relevance of multilateral institutions in the ever-evolving landscape of international relations, envisioning potential reforms.

Regional Harmony: Dynamics of Integration Explored

Unlocking the impact of regional organizations, like the European Union or ASEAN, on stability, economic collaboration, and political cohesion.

Soft Whispers: Cultural Influence in Global Affairs

Deciphering the art of soft power, cultural sway, and the dance of public diplomacy on the grand stage of international relations.

Trade Winds of Change: Global Commerce Post-Pandemic

Navigating the reshaped tides of global trade and supply chains in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rights Under Fire: Human Rights Amidst Conflict

Assessing the safeguarding of human rights in the tumult of conflict zones, and exploring avenues for accountability and justice.

AI on the Frontlines: Warfare in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Probing the ethical, legal, and strategic battlegrounds of integrating artificial intelligence into military operations and the face of warfare.

These topics now come alive with a touch of intrigue and exploration!

What topics do international relations students study?

Embarking on the adventure of international relations studies is like diving into a treasure trove of global complexities. A

s students navigate this dynamic field, they encounter a fascinating array of subjects that mirror the intricate dance of nations.

Here’s a sneak peek into the captivating topics that typically grace the desks of international relations students:

Global Political Economy

Unraveling the intricate threads of international trade, finance, and economic jamborees, exploring the rollercoaster ride of globalization, development dramas, and economic sagas.

Delving into the legal labyrinths that regulate the cosmic ballet between states, organizations, and individuals on the world stage—think treaties, human rights, and diplomatic choreography.

Security Studies

Analyzing the kaleidoscope of global security, from military acrobatics and conflict resolution gymnastics to the starring role of international organizations in the grand spectacle of peacekeeping.

Comparative Politics

Comparing political systems worldwide, a bit like political Tinder, but for countries—swipe left for autocracy, swipe right for democracy.

Diplomacy and Negotiation

Mastering the art and strategy of diplomacy—picture a chessboard where countries make their moves with diplomatic finesse, negotiating checkmates and stalemates.

Foreign Policy Analysis

Playing detective in the realm of global decision-making—think Sherlock Holmes meets geopolitics, dissecting the motives and influences behind a nation’s foreign policy.

Touring the bureaucratic wonders of global organizations like the United Nations, where policies are debated, resolutions are passed, and diplomatic handshakes abound.

Human Rights and Global Governance

Championing the cause of human rights on the world stage, a bit like the Avengers, but for justice, with discussions on global governance challenges thrown in.

Crisis Management

Learning the ABCs of handling international crises—from humanitarian dramas to political cliffhangers, because sometimes the world feels like a suspenseful blockbuster.

Area Studies

Taking a deep dive into the soul of specific regions or countries, unraveling their histories, cultures, political intrigues, and international relations soap operas.

These are just a few teasers from the thrilling curriculum that shapes international relations students into global aficionados, ready to decode the world’s greatest mysteries and challenges.

What are the main issues of international relations?

Embarking on the labyrinthine journey of international relations is like diving headfirst into a riveting saga filled with complex challenges and diplomatic intricacies. Here’s a closer look at the pulse-quickening issues that keep the global stage buzzing with anticipation:

Global Security and Conflict

Imagine the ongoing chess game of maintaining global peace, tackling conflicts, and deftly sidestepping the landmines of potential new hostilities.

Economic Inequality and Globalization

Imagine a high-stakes tightrope walk, balancing the pursuit of economic growth with the tightrope of fair wealth distribution in our interconnected, globalized world.

Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability

Feel the urgency of a call to arms against climate change, championing environmental protection, and orchestrating a symphony of international cooperation for sustainable development.

Human Rights Violations

Enter the battlefield of justice, where the quest to protect and champion human rights clashes with discrimination, persecution, and the shadows of injustice.

Global Health Challenges

Witness the epic quest against pandemics, the noble pursuit of equal healthcare, and the captivating dance where global health meets the intricate steps of international relations.

Nuclear Proliferation

Imagine delicate diplomatic waltz around the possession and potential use of nuclear weapons, involving disarming maneuvers, non-proliferation treaties, and diplomatic pirouettes.

Terrorism and Transnational Crime

Navigate the thrilling world of international intrigue where the threat of terrorism and cybercrime lurk, challenging the boundaries of nations.

Migration and Displacement

Step into the multifaceted dance of human migration, refugees seeking a new rhythm, and the drama of how these moves impact host countries and global stability.

Nationalism and Populism

Experience the resurgence of nationalist and populist movements, an unfolding drama influencing both domestic and international political stages.

Technological Advancements and Governance

Dive into the riveting tale of rapid technological advances, where cybersecurity challenges and the regulation of emerging technologies take center stage.

Public Health Crises

Respond to the urgent call of global health crises, epitomized by the dramatic plot twists of events like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Diplomatic Tensions and Alliances

Feel the diplomatic tension in the air, where alliances are forged and strained, as the geopolitical script continually rewrites itself.

These are not just global issues; they’re the characters and plotlines that make the grand narrative of international relations a thrilling and ever-evolving spectacle. Get ready for the next episode!

What are the topics of the International Relations Journal?

The International Relations Journal is like a treasure trove, unlocking the secrets of the ever-evolving world of international relations.

It’s a captivating journey through a kaleidoscope of topics, where the academic spotlight shines on:

Dive into the drama of war, the chessboard of nuclear politics, and the backstage workings of global peacekeepers.

Get tangled in the web of globalization’s impact on world economies, the intricate dance of international trade, and the role of financial bigwigs.

Embark on a legal odyssey, exploring the origins and applications of international law, dissecting treaties, and scrutinizing institutions like the International Court of Justice.

Take a cross-cultural road trip, comparing political systems, dissecting the birth and demise of democracies and autocracies, and peeking into the political economy and social policies across the globe.

International Relations Theory

Dip your toes into the sea of theories, from the hard-hitters like realism and liberalism to the avant-garde worlds of constructivism, critical theory, and postmodernism.

International History

Time-travel through historical sagas of diplomacy, the rollercoaster of war, the rise and fall of empires, and the game-changers like the Cold War, 9/11, and the transformative waves of the Arab Spring.

This isn’t just a journal; it’s a vibrant marketplace of ideas, where scholars and enthusiasts alike gather to decipher the complex symphony that is international relations.

In the captivating realm of international relations research, these topics serve as portals into the heart of our global narrative, inviting curious minds to embark on a journey through the complexities that define our interconnected world.

From the intriguing dance of technological diplomacy to the pressing challenges posed by climate change, each research avenue beckons exploration and deeper understanding.

As we navigate this intellectual landscape, the rise of artificial intelligence’s impact on global affairs, China’s ascendancy reshaping geopolitical dynamics, and the imperative for collective action on climate-related issues emerge as pivotal subjects.

These aren’t just topics; they are doorways into a world where every inquiry contributes to the ever-evolving story of our shared human experience.

The future of democracy faces crossroads, and the ethical dimensions of technology on human rights challenge us to contemplate the intersection of progress and ethical responsibility.

The multifaceted facets of international security weave a narrative that transcends borders, reminding us of our interconnected destinies.

As scholars and enthusiasts delve into these topics, the journal of international relations becomes not just a source of knowledge but a compass, guiding us through the intricate and dynamic terrain of our global society.

The landscape of international relations research is an open invitation to unravel, question, and actively participate in the ongoing dialogue that shapes our world. It’s a vibrant tapestry waiting to be explored by those curious enough to seek, understand, and contribute to the rich mosaic of our interconnected reality.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key theoretical frameworks in international relations research.

International relations research draws on various theoretical frameworks, including realism, liberalism, and constructivism. Each offers unique perspectives on global affairs.

How does cultural diplomacy impact international relations?

Cultural diplomacy plays a crucial role in shaping international perceptions. It fosters understanding between nations and influences public opinion, contributing to soft power dynamics.

What are the pressing contemporary issues in international relations research?

Contemporary issues include geopolitical tensions, global health crises, and environmental challenges. Researchers delve into these topics to offer insights and solutions.

How does global governance contribute to international stability?

Global governance, facilitated by international organizations, contributes to stability by providing mechanisms for collaboration, conflict resolution, and the pursuit of common goals.

What role do case studies play in international relations research?

Case studies provide a practical application of theoretical frameworks to real-world scenarios. They offer nuanced insights into diplomatic challenges and successes.

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US-Russian Contention in Cyberspace

The overarching question imparting urgency to this exploration is: Can U.S.-Russian contention in cyberspace cause the two nuclear superpowers to stumble into war? In considering this question we were constantly reminded of recent comments by a prominent U.S. arms control expert: At least as dangerous as the risk of an actual cyberattack, he observed, is cyber operations’ “blurring of the line between peace and war.” Or, as Nye wrote, “in the cyber realm, the difference between a weapon and a non-weapon may come down to a single line of code, or simply the intent of a computer program’s user.”

The Geopolitics of Renewable Hydrogen

Renewables are widely perceived as an opportunity to shatter the hegemony of fossil fuel-rich states and democratize the energy landscape. Virtually all countries have access to some renewable energy resources (especially solar and wind power) and could thus substitute foreign supply with local resources. Our research shows, however, that the role countries are likely to assume in decarbonized energy systems will be based not only on their resource endowment but also on their policy choices.

What Comes After the Forever Wars

As the United States emerges from the era of so-called forever wars, it should abandon the regime change business for good. Then, Washington must understand why it failed, writes Stephen Walt.

Telling Black Stories: What We All Can Do

Full event video and after-event thoughts from the panelists.

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All Research

The Belfer Center’s experts and fellows frequently research and write about topics such as international relations and security, war, globalization, terrorism, and governance.

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Analysis & Opinions - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School

Should the Biden Administration Pressure the Ukrainians to go to the Negotiating Table and Resolve the Dispute with Russia Diplomatically?

• Dr. Karen Donfried
• Vladyslav Wallace
• Read more about Should the Biden Administration Pressure the Ukrainians to go to the Negotiating Table and Resolve the Dispute with Russia Diplomatically?

Amidst Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, the debate intensifies over whether the Biden Administration should pressure Ukraine into diplomatic talks with Russia. Proponents believe negotiations could preempt prolonged conflict whereas opponents feel such a move could compromise Ukraine’s sovereignty. The sensitivity of the topic demands a nuanced evaluation of its implications for Ukraine and the international order.

This study group, led by Dr. Karen Donfried, is examining key foreign policy debates flowing from Russia’s war against Ukraine. Students discuss and debate the weekly topic with guest speakers.

Should the Biden Administration Provide Ukraine with any Weapons (Short of Nuclear, Chemical, or Biological Weapons) it Requires to Win the War?

• Read more about Should the Biden Administration Provide Ukraine with any Weapons (Short of Nuclear, Chemical, or Biological Weapons) it Requires to Win the War?

There is intense debate on whether the Biden Administration should supply Ukraine with any necessary weapons to ensure victory. Advocates argue this support is crucial for Ukraine's self-defense and deterrence against further aggression, while opponents raise concerns about escalation risks and the potential strain on US military stockpiles. This debate requires careful consideration of the strategic and geopolitical consequences of military aid.

Analysis & Opinions - Foreign Policy

The United States Has Less Leverage Over Israel Than You Think

• Stephen M. Walt
• Read more about The United States Has Less Leverage Over Israel Than You Think

Stephen Walt analyzes the foundations of U.S. influence over Israel—and the lack of it.

Mapping a Way Forward with African Businesses in a Globalized World

• Enitan Okediji
• Read more about Mapping a Way Forward with African Businesses in a Globalized World

Africa is home to approximately 1.4 billion people [1] , about 16 percent of the world’s population, yet its continental share in global trade remains below 3 percent [2], according to the World Trade Organization (WTO). This suboptimal proportion of world trade is compounded by Africa's limited intra-continental trade. During the 26th Africa Business Conference (ABC) held at Harvard Business School (HBS) on the 17 th of February 20, 2024, industry experts, policymakers, students, faculty members, and entrepreneurs converged to interrogate these concerns and explore opportunities for improving intra-African trade.  

Journal Article - International Security

A “Nuclear Umbrella” for Ukraine? Precedents and Possibilities for Postwar European Security

• Matthew Evangelista
• Read more about A “Nuclear Umbrella” for Ukraine? Precedents and Possibilities for Postwar European Security

Europe after the Russo-Ukrainian War must develop a new security structure to defend against any Russian aggression. The safest option is a non-offensive, confidence-building defense. This option includes proposals such as the “spider in the web” strategy and the “porcupine” strategy to provide for European security in a region threatened by Russian expansion—without relying on the threat of nuclear war. 

We All Fall Down: The Dismantling of the Warsaw Pact and the End of the Cold War in Eastern Europe

• Simon Miles
• Read more about We All Fall Down: The Dismantling of the Warsaw Pact and the End of the Cold War in Eastern Europe

The non-Soviet members of the Warsaw Pact contributed to the end of the Cold War along with the superpowers. These Eastern European states recognized that their relationship with the Soviet Union would impede their success in the post–Cold War world, so they ended the Pact.

It's Not Too Late for Restrained U.S. Foreign Policy

• Read more about It's Not Too Late for Restrained U.S. Foreign Policy

Stephen Walt writes that those who favor foreign policy restraint believe the United States should trade and invest in other countries, encourage other states to do the same, and be open to managed immigration instead of building walls in a fit of xenophobia.

Reining in Rebellion: The Decline of Political Violence in South America, 1830–1929

• Raúl L. Madrid
• Luis L. Schenoni
• Read more about Reining in Rebellion: The Decline of Political Violence in South America, 1830–1929

After a century of rebellion, South America experienced a rapid decline in revolts in the early 1900s. Historical narratives and an analysis of a comprehensive new dataset show that the decrease stemmed in large part from the expansion and professionalization of the region’s militaries, which were driven by an export boom and the threat of interstate conflict. 

Report - CNA's Center for Naval Analyses

Russia and the Global Nuclear Order

• Nicole Grajewski
• Read more about Russia and the Global Nuclear Order

Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine illuminated the long profound shadow of nuclear weapons over international security. Russia's nuclear threats have rightfully garnered significant attention because of the unfathomable lethality of nuclear weapons. However, the use of such weapons in Ukraine is only one way—albeit the gravest— that Russia could challenge the global nuclear order. Russia's influence extends deep into the very fabric of this order—a system to which it is inextricably bound by Moscow's position in cornerstone institutions such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). From withdrawing from key treaties to stymieing resolutions critical of misconduct, Moscow has demonstrated its ability to challenge the legitimacy, relevance, and interpretations of numerous standards and principles espoused by the West.

Correspondence: Debating U.S. Security Assistance

• Christopher Darnton
• Rachel Tecott Metz
• Read more about Correspondence: Debating U.S. Security Assistance

Christopher Darnton responds to Rachel Metz's Winter 2022/23 article, "The Cult of the Persuasive: Why U.S. Security Assistance Fails."

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Articles on International relations

Displaying 1 - 20 of 245 articles.

Brian Mulroney’s tough stand against apartheid is one of his most important legacies

Peter Loewen , University of Toronto

Free movement in west Africa: three countries leaving Ecowas could face migration hurdles

Franzisca Zanker , Arnold Bergstraesser Institute ; Amanda Bisong , Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam , and Leonie Jegen , University of Amsterdam

New Zealand is reviving the ANZAC alliance – joining AUKUS is a logical next step

Nicholas Khoo , University of Otago

UN genocide ruling won’t change Israel’s behaviour: three reasons why

Anthoni van Nieuwkerk , University of South Africa

Australia risks falling behind allies on research security. Will it take a spy scandal in our universities to catch up?

Brendan Walker-Munro , The University of Queensland

A ‘no’ win will make it harder for government to tackle Indigenous disadvantage: Albanese

Michelle Grattan , University of Canberra

Book review: African thinkers analyse some of the big issues of our time - race, belonging and identity

Ademola Adesola , Mount Royal University

Closer relations between Australia and India have the potential to benefit both nations

Amitabh Mattoo , The University of Melbourne

Asian women are still a minority in diplomatic positions: this is how we can fix this

Athiqah Nur Alami , Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN) ; Ganewati Wuryandari , Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN) , and Mario Surya Ramadhan , Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional (BRIN)

King Charles makes state visit to France – a year into his reign, here’s what’s changed under the new British monarch

Craig Prescott , Royal Holloway University of London

The US and China may be ending an agreement on science and technology cooperation − a policy expert explains what this means for research

Caroline Wagner , The Ohio State University

Sweden is joining Nato: what that means for the alliance and the war in Ukraine

Simon J Smith , Staffordshire University and Jordan Becker , United States Military Academy West Point

The Harvard of anti-terrorism : how Israel’s military-industrial complex feeds the global arms trade

Kevin Foster , Monash University

The Diplomat: Netflix show suggests the US-UK special relationship needs some TLC

Sam Edwards , Loughborough University

Eurovision 2023: why the stage itself is the silent star of the contest

Lara Maleen Kipp , Aberystwyth University

Russia wants military aid from China – here’s why this deal could help China, too

Michael A. Allen , Boise State University

Sanctions rarely work, but are they still the least worst option?

Mark Beeson , University of Technology Sydney

Henry Kissinger: history will judge the former US secretary of state’s southern African interventions to be a failure

Peter Vale , University of Pretoria

Outer space talks are a welcome addition to the US-Africa Leaders Summit - what’s on the table

Etim Offiong , Obafemi Awolowo University

Why increasing support for Ukraine is critical to Australia’s security as a ‘middle power’

William Partlett , The University of Melbourne

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Top contributors

Adjunct professor, University of Technology Sydney

Director of China-Indonesia Desk, Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS)

Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Senior Research Fellow, Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria., University of Pretoria

Senior Visiting Fellow, City, University of London

Distinguished Professor, Arthur J. Gosnell Professor of Economics, & Interim Head, Department of Sustainability, Rochester Institute of Technology

Professor, Department of Government, University of Essex

Reader in European Politics, University of Westminster

Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences and Professor of International Relations at La Trobe University., La Trobe University

Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Swansea University

Professor of International Politics, Clinton Institute, University College Dublin

Lecturer in Modern European History, Queen's University Belfast

Lecturer in International Relations, La Trobe University

Henry J. Leir Professor of Practice in Economics of the Middle East, Brandeis University

Visiting Fellow, UNSW Sydney

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High Impact Political Science and International Relations Research

Oxford University Press publishes a portfolio of leading Political Science and IR journals. To keep up to date with the latest research your peers are reading and citing, browse our selection of high impact articles on a diverse breadth of topics below.  

All articles are freely available to read, download, and enjoy until May 2023.

• African Affairs
• Foreign Policy Analysis
• Global Studies Quarterly
• International Affairs
• International Political Sociology
• International Relations of the Asia-Pacific
• International Studies Perspectives
• International Studies Quarterly
• International Studies Review
• Journal of Global Security Studies
• Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory

Parliamentary Affairs  

Policy and society.

• Perspectives on Public Management and Governance
• Publius: The Journal of Federalism
• Social Politics
• The Chinese Journal of International Politics

African Affairs  

Respecting and circumventing presidential term limits in sub-Saharan Africa: A comparative survey Filip Reyntjens African Affairs , Volume 119, Issue 475, April 2020, Pages 275–295, https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/adz029

‘Africa+1’ summit diplomacy and the ‘new scramble’ narrative: Recentering African agency Folashadé Soulé African Affairs , Volume 119, Issue 477, October 2020, Pages 633–646, https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/adaa015

Party campaign strategies in Ghana: Rallies, canvassing and handouts Sarah Brierley, Eric Kramon African Affairs , Volume 119, Issue 477, October 2020, Pages 587–603, https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/adaa024

The political economy of Biafra separatism and post-war Igbo nationalism in Nigeria Chikodiri Nwangwu, Freedom C. Onuoha, Bernard U. Nwosu, Christian Ezeibe African Affairs , Volume 119, Issue 477, October 2020, Pages 526–551, https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/adaa025

Devolution and the politics of communal tenure reform in Kenya Gargule A. Achiba, Monica N. Lengoiboni African Affairs , Volume 119, Issue 476, July 2020, Pages 338–369, https://doi.org/10.1093/afraf/adaa010

Foreign Policy Analysis  

The Party Politics of Foreign and Security Policy Tapio Raunio, Wolfgang Wagner Foreign Policy Analysis , Volume 16, Issue 4, October 2020, Pages 515–531, https://doi.org/10.1093/fpa/oraa018

Gendering Foreign Policy: A Comparative Framework for Analysis Karin Aggestam, Jacqui True Foreign Policy Analysis , Volume 16, Issue 2, April 2020, Pages 143–162, https://doi.org/10.1093/fpa/orz026

Party Politics or (Supra-)National Interest? External Relations Votes in the European Parliament Tapio Raunio, Wolfgang Wagner Foreign Policy Analysis , Volume 16, Issue 4, October 2020, Pages 547–564, https://doi.org/10.1093/fpa/oraa010

Swedish Feminist Foreign Policy and “Gender Cosmopolitanism” Annika Bergman Rosamond Foreign Policy Analysis , Volume 16, Issue 2, April 2020, Pages 217–235, https://doi.org/10.1093/fpa/orz025

Patterns of Political Ideology and Security Policy Tim Haesebrouck, Patrick A Mello Foreign Policy Analysis , Volume 16, Issue 4, October 2020, Pages 565–586, https://doi.org/10.1093/fpa/oraa006

Global Studies Quarterly  

Taking the Research Experience Seriously: A Framework for Reflexive Applied Research in Development Roxani Krystalli, Elizabeth Hoffecker, Kendra Leith, Kim Wilson Global Studies Quarterly , Volume 1, Issue 3, September 2021, ksab022, https://doi.org/10.1093/isagsq/ksab022

Populism and the Affective Politics of Humiliation Narratives Alexandra Homolar, Georg Löfflmann Global Studies Quarterly , Volume 1, Issue 1, March 2021, ksab002, https://doi.org/10.1093/isagsq/ksab002

The Politics of Exceptionalism: Securitization and COVID-19 Jessica Kirk, Matt McDonald Global Studies Quarterly , Volume 1, Issue 3, September 2021, ksab024, https://doi.org/10.1093/isagsq/ksab024

Role Theory, Foreign Policy, and the Social Construction of Sovereignty: Brexit Stage Right Ryan K. Beasley, Juliet Kaarbo, Kai Oppermann Global Studies Quarterly , Volume 1, Issue 1, March 2021, ksab001, https://doi.org/10.1093/isagsq/ksab001

The Synthetic Situation in Diplomacy: Scopic Media and the Digital Mediation of Estrangement Kristin Anabel Eggeling, Rebecca Adler-Nissen Global Studies Quarterly , Volume 1, Issue 2, June 2021, ksab005, https://doi.org/10.1093/isagsq/ksab005

International Affairs  

The Belt and Road Initiative: geo-economics and Indo-Pacific security competition Mingjiang Li International Affairs , Volume 96, Issue 1, January 2020, Pages 169–187, https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiz240

Why the COVID-19 response needs International Relations Sara E. Davies, Clare Wenham International Affairs , Volume 96, Issue 5, September 2020, Pages 1227–1251, https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiaa135

Evasive balancing: India's unviable Indo-Pacific strategy Rajesh Rajagopalan International Affairs , Volume 96, Issue 1, January 2020, Pages 75–93, https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiz224 Immature leadership: Donald Trump and the American presidency Daniel W Drezner International Affairs , Volume 96, Issue 2, March 2020, Pages 383–400, https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiaa009

The recalibration of Chinese assertiveness: China's responses to the Indo-Pacific challenge Feng Liu International Affairs , Volume 96, Issue 1, January 2020, Pages 9–27, https://doi.org/10.1093/ia/iiz226

International Political Sociology  

Confronting the International Political Sociology of the New Right Rita Abrahamsen, Jean-François Drolet, Alexandra Gheciu, Karin Narita, Srdjan Vucetic, Michael Williams International Political Sociology , Volume 14, Issue 1, March 2020, Pages 94–107, https://doi.org/10.1093/ips/olaa001

Collective Discussion: Toward Critical Approaches to Intelligence as a Social Phenomenon Hager Ben Jaffel, Alvina Hoffmann, Oliver Kearns, Sebastian Larsson International Political Sociology , Volume 14, Issue 3, September 2020, Pages 323–344, https://doi.org/10.1093/ips/olaa015

The Cruel Optimism of Militarism: Feminist Curiosity, Affect, and Global Security Amanda Chisholm, Hanna Ketola International Political Sociology , Volume 14, Issue 3, September 2020, Pages 270–285, https://doi.org/10.1093/ips/olaa005

Feminist Commodity Activism: The New Political Economy of Feminist Protest Jemima Repo International Political Sociology , Volume 14, Issue 2, June 2020, Pages 215–232, https://doi.org/10.1093/ips/olz033

Affect and the Response to Terror: Commemoration and Communities of Sense Angharad Closs Stephens, Martin Coward, Samuel Merrill, Shanti Sumartojo International Political Sociology , Volume 15, Issue 1, March 2021, Pages 22–40, https://doi.org/10.1093/ips/olaa020

International Relations of the Asia-Pacific  

Conceptualizing equidistant diplomacy in international relations: the case of Singapore Ang Guan Teo, Kei Koga International Relations of the Asia-Pacific , lcab011, https://doi.org/10.1093/irap/lcab011

Hedging and grand strategy in Southeast Asian foreign policy David Martin Jones, Nicole Jenne International Relations of the Asia-Pacific , lcab003, https://doi.org/10.1093/irap/lcab003

Strategizing Femininity between the Global and the Taiwanese Local: Implications for International Relations Chih-Yu Shih International Relations of the Asia-Pacific , lcab014, https://doi.org/10.1093/irap/lcab014

China’s motives, influence and prospects in Pacific Island countries: views of Chinese scholars Denghua Zhang International Relations of the Asia-Pacific , lcab019, https://doi.org/10.1093/irap/lcab019

Seeking support beyond alliance? Rethinking great power partner politics after the Cold War Lu Ding, Xuefeng Sun International Relations of the Asia-Pacific , Volume 21, Issue 3, September 2021, Pages 431–464, https://doi.org/10.1093/irap/lcaa005

International Studies Perspectives  

Differing about Difference: Relational IR from around the World Tamara A Trownsell, Arlene B Tickner, Amaya Querejazu, Jarrad Reddekop, Giorgio Shani, Kosuke Shimizu, Navnita Chadha Behera, Anahita Arian International Studies Perspectives , Volume 22, Issue 1, February 2021, Pages 25–64, https://doi.org/10.1093/isp/ekaa008

What's Feminist about Feminist Foreign Policy? Sweden's and Canada's Foreign Policy Agendas Jennifer Thomson International Studies Perspectives , Volume 21, Issue 4, November 2020, Pages 424–437, https://doi.org/10.1093/isp/ekz032

Scattered and Unsystematic: The Taught Discipline in the Intellectual Life of International Relations Aaron Ettinger International Studies Perspectives , Volume 21, Issue 3, August 2020, Pages 338–361, https://doi.org/10.1093/isp/ekz028

Global Monetary Order and the Liberal Order Debate Carla Norrlof, Paul Poast, Benjamin J Cohen, Sabreena Croteau, Aashna Khanna, Daniel McDowell, Hongying Wang, W Kindred Winecoff International Studies Perspectives , Volume 21, Issue 2, May 2020, Pages 109–153, https://doi.org/10.1093/isp/ekaa001

The Politics of Teaching International Relations in the Arab World: Reading Walt in Beirut, Wendt in Doha, and Abul-Fadl in Cairo May Darwich, Morten Valbjørn, Bassel F Salloukh, Waleed Hazbun, Amira Abu Samra, Said Saddiki, Adham Saouli, Hamad H Albloshi, Karim Makdisi International Studies Perspectives , Volume 22, Issue 4, November 2021, Pages 407–438, https://doi.org/10.1093/isp/ekaa020

International Studies Quarterly  

Illiberal Norm Diffusion: How Do Governments Learn to Restrict Nongovernmental Organizations? Marlies Glasius, Jelmer Schalk, Meta De Lange International Studies Quarterly , Volume 64, Issue 2, June 2020, Pages 453–468, https://doi.org/10.1093/isq/sqaa019

Emotional Labor and the Power of International Bureaucrats Deepak Nair International Studies Quarterly , Volume 64, Issue 3, September 2020, Pages 573–587, https://doi.org/10.1093/isq/sqaa030

Promises under Pressure: Statements of Reassurance in US Alliances Brian Blankenship International Studies Quarterly , Volume 64, Issue 4, December 2020, Pages 1017–1030, https://doi.org/10.1093/isq/sqaa071

Leadership Selection in United Nations Peacekeeping Kseniya Oksamytna, Vincenzo Bove, Magnus Lundgren International Studies Quarterly , Volume 65, Issue 1, March 2021, Pages 16–28, https://doi.org/10.1093/isq/sqaa023

Demanding Truth: The Global Transitional Justice Network and the Creation of Truth Commissions Kelebogile Zvobgo International Studies Quarterly , Volume 64, Issue 3, September 2020, Pages 609–625, https://doi.org/10.1093/isq/sqaa044

International Studies Review  

Who Publishes Where? Exploring the Geographic Diversity of Global IR Journals Mathis Lohaus, Wiebke Wemheuer-Vogelaar International Studies Review , Volume 23, Issue 3, September 2021, Pages 645–669, https://doi.org/10.1093/isr/viaa062

Forum: Coding in Tongues: Developing Non-English Coding Schemes for Leadership Profiling Klaus Brummer, Michael D Young, Özgur Özdamar, Sercan Canbolat, Consuelo Thiers, Christian Rabini, Katharina Dimmroth, Mischa Hansel, Ameneh Mehvar International Studies Review , Volume 22, Issue 4, December 2020, Pages 1039–1067, https://doi.org/10.1093/isr/viaa001

Friends, Fellows, and Foes: A New Framework for Studying Relational Peace Johanna Söderström, Malin Åkebo, Anna K Jarstad International Studies Review , Volume 23, Issue 3, September 2021, Pages 484–508, https://doi.org/10.1093/isr/viaa033

The Visual International Relations Project Michael R. Pfonner, Patrick James International Studies Review , Volume 22, Issue 2, June 2020, Pages 192–213, https://doi.org/10.1093/isr/viaa014

Where We At? New Directions for Research on Popular Culture and World Politics Rhys Crilley International Studies Review , Volume 23, Issue 1, March 2021, Pages 164–180, https://doi.org/10.1093/isr/viaa027

Journal of Global Security Studies  

The Microfoundations of State Cybersecurity: Cyber Risk Perceptions and the Mass Public Nadiya Kostyuk, Carly Wayne Journal of Global Security Studies , Volume 6, Issue 2, June 2021, ogz077, https://doi.org/10.1093/jogss/ogz077

Secessionist Strategy and Tactical Variation in the Pursuit of Independence Ryan D. Griffiths Journal of Global Security Studies , Volume 6, Issue 1, March 2021, ogz082, https://doi.org/10.1093/jogss/ogz082

A Motion of No Confidence: Leadership and Rebel Fragmentation Austin C. Doctor Journal of Global Security Studies , Volume 5, Issue 4, October 2020, Pages 598–616, https://doi.org/10.1093/jogss/ogz060

Visions of Peace Amidst a Human Rights Crisis: War on Drugs in Colombia and the Philippines Salvador Santino F Regilme, Jr Journal of Global Security Studies , Volume 6, Issue 2, June 2021, ogaa022, https://doi.org/10.1093/jogss/ogaa022

The Islamic State's Pattern of Sexual Violence: Ideology and Institutions, Policies and Practices Mara Redlich Revkin, Elisabeth Jean Wood Journal of Global Security Studies , Volume 6, Issue 2, June 2021, ogaa038, https://doi.org/10.1093/jogss/ogaa038

Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory  

Who Is in Charge? The Provision of Informal Personal Resources at the Street Level Einat Lavee Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory , Volume 31, Issue 1, January 2021, Pages 4–20, https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muaa025

Administrative Capital and Citizens’ Responses to Administrative Burden Ayesha Masood, Muhammad Azfar Nisar Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory , Volume 31, Issue 1, January 2021, Pages 56–72, https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muaa031

What is Public about Public Leadership? Exploring Implicit Public Leadership Theories Rick Vogel, Laura Werkmeister Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory , Volume 31, Issue 1, January 2021, Pages 166–183, https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muaa024

The Psychological Costs of Citizen Coproduction Mette Kjærgaard Thomsen, Martin Baekgaard, Ulrich Thy Jensen Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory , Volume 30, Issue 4, October 2020, Pages 656–673, https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muaa001

“It Takes a While to Get Used to”: The Costs of Redeeming Public Benefits Carolyn Y. Barnes Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory , Volume 31, Issue 2, April 2021, Pages 295–310, https://doi.org/10.1093/jopart/muaa042

Democracy and the Politics of Coronavirus: Trust, Blame and Understanding Matthew Flinders Parliamentary Affairs , Volume 74, Issue 2, April 2021, Pages 483–502, https://doi.org/10.1093/pa/gsaa013

Not a Brexit Election? Pessimism, Promises and Populism 'UK-Style' Matthew Flinders Parliamentary Affairs , Volume 73, Issue Supplement_1, September 2020, Pages 225–242, https://doi.org/10.1093/pa/gsaa030

Brexit and Parliament: The Anatomy of a Perfect Storm Meg Russell Parliamentary Affairs , Volume 74, Issue 2, April 2021, Pages 443–463, https://doi.org/10.1093/pa/gsaa011

Gender Politics and Legislative Networks in Taiwan: An Analysis of Women-Bill Co-Sponsorship and Bill Success Jaemin Shim Parliamentary Affairs , Volume 74, Issue 3, July 2021, Pages 639–661, https://doi.org/10.1093/pa/gsz050

Dynamics of Intra-Party Organisation in the Digital Age: A Grassroots Analysis of Digital Adoption Katharine Dommett, Luke Temple, Patrick Seyd Parliamentary Affairs , Volume 74, Issue 2, April 2021, Pages 378–397, https://doi.org/10.1093/pa/gsaa007

Mobilizing Policy (In)Capacity to Fight COVID-19: Understanding Variations in State Responses   Giliberto Capano, Michael Howlett, Darryl S. L. Jarvis, M. Ramesh, Nihit Goyal Policy and Society , Volume 39, Issue 3, September 2020, Pages 285–308, https://doi.org/10.1080/14494035.2020.1787628 Policymaking in a low-trust state: legitimacy, state capacity, and responses to COVID-19 in Hong Kong   Kris Hartley, Darryl S. L. Jarvis Policy and Society , Volume 39, Issue 3, September 2020, Pages 403–423, https://doi.org/10.1080/14494035.2020.1783791 Nudges against pandemics: Sweden’s COVID-19 containment strategy in perspective   Jon Pierre Policy and Society , Volume 39, Issue 3, September 2020, Pages 478–493, https://doi.org/10.1080/14494035.2020.1783787 Policy design and state capacity in the COVID-19 emergency in Italy: if you are not prepared for the (un)expected, you can be only what you already are   Giliberto Capano Policy and Society , Volume 39, Issue 3, September 2020, Pages 326–344, https://doi.org/10.1080/14494035.2020.1783790 Policy style, consistency and the effectiveness of the policy mix in China’s fight against COVID-19    Ciqi Mei Policy and Society , Volume 39, Issue 3, September 2020, Pages 309–325, https://doi.org/10.1080/14494035.2020.1787627

Perspectives on Public Management and Governance  

Cooperation in the Face of Transboundary Crisis: A Framework for Analysis Donald Blondin, Arjen Boin Perspectives on Public Management and Governance , Volume 3, Issue 3, September 2020, Pages 197–209, https://doi.org/10.1093/ppmgov/gvz031

Conceptual Bases of Employee Accountability: A Psychological Approach Yousueng Han, James L. Perry Perspectives on Public Management and Governance , Volume 3, Issue 4, December 2020, Pages 288–304, https://doi.org/10.1093/ppmgov/gvz030

Democratic Backsliding, Populism, and Public Administration Michael W. Bauer, Stefan Becker Perspectives on Public Management and Governance , Volume 3, Issue 1, March 2020, Pages 19–31, https://doi.org/10.1093/ppmgov/gvz026

Learning from Our Mistakes: Public Management Reform and the Hope of Open Government Alex Ingrams, Suzanne Piotrowski, Daniel Berliner Perspectives on Public Management and Governance , Volume 3, Issue 4, December 2020, Pages 257–272, https://doi.org/10.1093/ppmgov/gvaa001

The Ecology of Emergency Management Work in the Digital Age Shalini Misra, Patrick Roberts, Matthew Rhodes Perspectives on Public Management and Governance , Volume 3, Issue 4, December 2020, Pages 305–322, https://doi.org/10.1093/ppmgov/gvaa007

Publius: The Journal of Federalism  

Climate Change Policymaking in the States: A View at 2020 Rebecca Bromley-Trujillo, Mirya R Holman Publius: The Journal of Federalism , Volume 50, Issue 3, Summer 2020, Pages 446–472, https://doi.org/10.1093/publius/pjaa008

The State of American Federalism 2019–2020: Polarized and Punitive Intergovernmental Relations Greg Goelzhauser, David M. Konisky Publius: The Journal of Federalism , Volume 50, Issue 3, Summer 2020, Pages 311–343, https://doi.org/10.1093/publius/pjaa021

Partisan Federalism and Subnational Governments' International Engagements: Insights from India Chanchal Kumar Sharma, Sandra Destradi, Johannes Plagemann Publius: The Journal of Federalism , Volume 50, Issue 4, Fall 2020, Pages 566–592, https://doi.org/10.1093/publius/pjaa017

Policy and Political Learning: The Development of Medical Marijuana Policies in the States Daniel J Mallinson, A Lee Hannah Publius: The Journal of Federalism , Volume 50, Issue 3, Summer 2020, Pages 344–369, https://doi.org/10.1093/publius/pjaa006

Staying in Place: Federalism and the Political Economy of Place Attachment Nicholas F. Jacobs, B. K. Munis Publius: The Journal of Federalism , Volume 50, Issue 4, Fall 2020, Pages 544–565, https://doi.org/10.1093/publius/pjaa024

Social Politics  

Varieties of Gender Regimes Sylvia Walby Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society , Volume 27, Issue 3, Fall 2020, Pages 414–431, https://doi.org/10.1093/sp/jxaa018

The Origins and Transformations of Conservative Gender Regimes in Germany and Japan Karen A. Shire, Kumiko Nemoto Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society , Volume 27, Issue 3, Fall 2020, Pages 432–448, https://doi.org/10.1093/sp/jxaa017

Counteracting Challenges to Gender Equality in the Era of Anti-Gender Campaigns: Competing Gender Knowledges and Affective Solidarity Elżbieta Korolczuk Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society , Volume 27, Issue 4, Winter 2020, Pages 694–717, https://doi.org/10.1093/sp/jxaa021

Gender, Violence, and Political Institutions: Struggles over Sexual Harassment in the European Parliament Valentine Berthet, Johanna Kantola Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society , Volume 28, Issue 1, Spring 2021, Pages 143–167, https://doi.org/10.1093/sp/jxaa015

Gender Regime Change in Decentralized States: The Case of Spain Emanuela Lombardo, Alba Alonso Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society , Volume 27, Issue 3, Fall 2020, Pages 449–466, https://doi.org/10.1093/sp/jxaa016

The Chinese Journal of International Politics  

Bipolar Rivalry in the Early Digital Age Yan Xuetong The Chinese Journal of International Politics , Volume 13, Issue 3, Autumn 2020, Pages 313–341, https://doi.org/10.1093/cjip/poaa007 China's Rise and Balance of Power Politics Zhen Han, T. V. Paul The Chinese Journal of International Politics , Volume 13, Issue 1, Spring 2020, Pages 1–26, https://doi.org/10.1093/cjip/poz018

Narrating the China Threat: Securitising Chinese Economic Presence in Europe Igor Rogelja, Konstantinos Tsimonis The Chinese Journal of International Politics , Volume 13, Issue 1, Spring 2020, Pages 103–133, https://doi.org/10.1093/cjip/poz019

Fears of Falling Short versus Anxieties of Decline: Explaining Russia and China’s Approach to Status-Seeking Andrej Krickovic, Chang Zhang The Chinese Journal of International Politics , Volume 13, Issue 2, Summer 2020, Pages 219–251, https://doi.org/10.1093/cjip/poaa006

Preventing the China-U.S. Cold War from Turning Hot Christopher Layne The Chinese Journal of International Politics , Volume 13, Issue 3, Autumn 2020, Pages 343–385, https://doi.org/10.1093/cjip/poaa012

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200+ International Relations Research Topics: Finding Your Niche

International relations, as a field of study, is dynamic, complex, and ever-evolving. It encompasses the intricate web of relationships, both cooperative and contentious, between nations and the multifaceted issues that shape our global landscape. 

The research conducted in this field is crucial for understanding the world we live in, as it sheds light on the forces that influence diplomacy, trade, security, and human rights on an international scale.

If you’re embarking on a journey into the world of international relations research, you’ve made an exciting choice. Choosing the right research topic is the critical first step in this endeavor. Your topic sets the direction for your research, influences the questions you seek to answer, and determines the potential impact of your work. 

In this blog, we’ll explore the art of selecting international relations research topics, providing guidance and inspiration to help you find your niche in this fascinating field.

How to Select International Relations Research Topics?

Table of Contents

• Identifying Your Interests and Passion

One of the most crucial factors in selecting a research topic is your personal interest and passion. Your enthusiasm for a particular subject will drive your research forward and keep you motivated throughout the process. Do you have a keen interest in global security, international organizations, diplomacy, economic issues, or human rights? 

Reflect on your own experiences, background, and the topics that resonate with you. Your passion will make your research more meaningful and engaging.

• Relevance and Timeliness of the Topic

Relevance and timeliness are essential considerations when choosing an international relations research topic. The world is constantly changing, and certain issues gain prominence while others recede. 

Researching a timely topic ensures that your work remains current and contributes to the ongoing discourse. Pay attention to recent global events, emerging challenges, and evolving policies to identify topics that are both relevant and in demand.

• Scope and Feasibility of Research

The scope and feasibility of your research topic are practical aspects to consider. Your topic should be manageable within the resources and time frame available to you. 

Evaluate the availability of data, access to experts or primary sources, and the potential for conducting fieldwork if necessary. An overly ambitious or overly narrow topic can pose challenges, so strike a balance that aligns with your research capabilities.

200+ International Relations Research Topics: Category-Wise

International relations encompass a wide array of subjects. To help you get started, let’s explore some broad categories with examples of specific research topics within each:

Security and Conflict

• Nuclear proliferation’s effects on international security
• The role of intelligence agencies in international security
• Cybersecurity threats and state responses
• Arms control agreements and their effectiveness
• The implications of military interventions in Syria
• The dynamics of terrorism and its evolving nature
• Nuclear disarmament efforts in the 21st century
• The influence of non-state actors in international conflicts
• The rise of hybrid warfare and its impact on global stability
• Regional security dynamics in East Asia
•  The impact of emerging technologies (AI, drones) on military strategies
• Proxy wars and their implications for global security
• The role of international organizations in peacekeeping missions
• The evolution of counter-terrorism strategies post-9/11
• The relationship between arms sales and international conflict
• Religious and ethnic tensions in the aftermath of the Cold War
• The influence of climate change on security and resource conflicts
• Space militarization and its impact on international relations
• The role of private military companies in modern conflicts
• The politics of nuclear non-proliferation agreements
• Artificial intelligence’s place in combat in the future
• The South China Sea presents issues for maritime security
• The impact of proxy warfare in the Middle East
• Emerging security threats in the Arctic region
• The role of intelligence sharing in counter-terrorism efforts
• The use of military drones and their legal and ethical implications
• Disarmament and arms control in space
• The militarization of the internet and its consequences
• The psychology of conflict and the role of perception in international relations
• The implications of bioterrorism in the 21st century

Global Governance and International Organizations

• The effectiveness of the United Nations in promoting peace
• The European Union’s place in world politics
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and their influence on international policy
• The impact of regional organizations on international relations
• The World Commerce Organization’s (WTO) function in international commerce
• Interventions for humanitarian causes and the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle
• The relevance of international law in a changing world order
• Climate agreements and their influence on international cooperation
• Global governance challenges in the 21st century
• The role of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in addressing war crimes
• The effectiveness of the African Union in addressing regional conflicts
• The impact of the G20 on global economic governance
• The role of BRICS in reshaping international power dynamics
• The United Nations Security Council reform and its challenges
• The influence of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on economic policies
• Multilateral trade negotiations and their implications for developing nations
• The World Health Organization (WHO) and global health governance
• International cooperation in space exploration and resource management
• The role of global think tanks in shaping international policies
• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their progress
• The African Union’s role in addressing conflicts in Africa
• The effectiveness of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)
• The influence of regional organizations on global governance
• The impact of the Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation
• The role of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in workers’ rights
• International responses to global health crises like pandemics
• The influence of non-state actors in shaping international policies
• The United Nations’ approach to peacebuilding and state-building
• The role of informal summits in diplomatic negotiations
• Global governance challenges in the era of AI and automation

Diplomacy and Foreign Policy

• Public diplomacy and soft power in the digital age
• Economic Diplomacy and China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
• The role of diplomacy in resolving the North Korea crisis
• Diplomatic efforts in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
• Cultural diplomacy and its impact on international relations
• Track II diplomacy and its role in conflict resolution
• The influence of diplomacy on international trade agreements
• The role of diplomats in shaping foreign policy
• Diplomatic relations between the United States and Russia
• The art of diplomatic negotiation and its strategies
• Track I diplomacy and official government-to-government negotiations
• The impact of diplomacy on the Iran nuclear deal
• The role of cultural diplomacy in enhancing international relations
• The diplomacy of humanitarian aid distribution in conflict zones
• Bilateral vs. multilateral diplomacy in addressing global issues
• The role of diaspora communities in shaping a nation’s foreign policy
• The impact of social media on modern diplomatic efforts
• Diplomatic tensions between the United States and China
• The influence of political ideology on foreign policy decisions
• Diplomatic relations and the recognition of states and governments
• Public diplomacy and cultural exchange programs in international relations
• Diplomatic negotiations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
• Diplomatic efforts in resolving territorial disputes in the South China Sea
• The role of diplomacy in addressing humanitarian crises
• Environmental diplomacy and international climate agreements
• The impact of economic diplomacy on trade negotiations
• Track III diplomacy and its contribution to conflict resolution
• The diplomacy of arms control agreements
• Mediation and conflict resolution in the Balkans
• The role of secret diplomacy in shaping international events

International Political Economy

• The impact of trade wars on global economic stability
• The role of multinational corporations in shaping international economic policy
• Sustainable development goals and their impact on international economic relations
• Economic sanctions and their effectiveness as a foreign policy tool
• Currency manipulation and its effects on international trade
• The role of global financial institutions in economic governance
• The economic consequences of Brexit for the UK and the EU
• The globalization of supply chains and its implications for international trade
• The economics of energy security in international relations
• The role of international aid in promoting economic development
• The economics of international migration and its impact on host countries
• The Belt and Road Initiative’s influence on global trade routes
• Trade disputes and the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
• The economic implications of Brexit on the European Union and the UK
• The role of sovereign wealth funds in international investment
• Currency exchange rate policies and their effects on trade balances
• The global impact of commodity price fluctuations
• Economic sanctions and their consequences for target nations
• The role of corporate social responsibility in international business
• The digital economy and international taxation challenges
• The economic consequences of trade disputes between the U.S. and China
• The role of trade agreements in promoting sustainable development
• Currency manipulation and its impact on exchange rates
• The geopolitics of energy resources and energy security
• The role of the World Bank in global economic development
• Economic dimensions of transnational crime and organized crime networks
• The influence of economic inequality on international relations
• The economic implications of Brexit on the European Union
• Economic cooperation and conflict in the Arctic region
• The economic aspects of humanitarian aid and development assistance

Human Rights and Humanitarian Issues

• The responsibility to protect (R2P) and intervene in cases of mass atrocities
• Human rights violations in conflict zones and international responses
• Refugee crises and their impact on international relations
• Humanitarian interventions and the ethics of foreign aid
• Gender-based violence in conflict and post-conflict settings
• The role of international organizations in advancing human rights
• The impact of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on accountability
• The plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in international relations
• Child soldiers and their rehabilitation in post-conflict societies
• Access to healthcare as a human rights issue in global politics
• The effectiveness of international human rights tribunals
• LGBTQ+ rights as a human rights issue in international politics
• Cultural relativism and its challenges in human rights discourse
• Human rights implications of mass surveillance and privacy violations
• Environmental rights and the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities
• The role of social media in human rights advocacy and reporting
• The responsibility of states to prevent and addressing human trafficking
• Indigenous rights and the struggle for self-determination
• The ethics of humanitarian aid distribution in conflict zones
• Child protection in armed conflicts and the impact on child soldiers
• The impact of human rights education on global awareness
• Human rights violations in conflict zones and the responsibility to protect
• The role of international criminal tribunals in achieving justice
• Minority rights and ethnic conflicts in international relations
• The protection of cultural heritage during armed conflicts
• Environmental rights and environmental justice in international law
• The challenges of upholding human rights during counterterrorism efforts
• The role of international organizations in addressing gender-based violence
• Refugee Protection and the Global Compact on Refugees
• The ethics of drone warfare and targeted killings in international law

Miscellaneous Topics

• The role of religion in international conflicts and diplomacy
• Soft power and its impact on international relations
• International perspectives on immigration and border security
• The influence of social media on global political movements
• Diaspora communities and their role in shaping foreign policy
• Environmental security and the nexus between climate change and conflict
• The role of historical memory and collective trauma in international relations
• Trade-offs between national security and civil liberties
• The relationship between education and global citizenship
• Ethical considerations in humanitarian interventions and disaster relief efforts

International Law

• The role of customary international law in modern diplomacy
• State sovereignty and the responsibility to protect (R2P) doctrine
• The impact of international law on territorial disputes
• The legal dimensions of cyber warfare and cybersecurity
• The development of international environmental law and conservation efforts
• The role of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in dispute resolution
• International law and the protection of cultural heritage during conflict
• The challenges of enforcing international law in the face of non-compliance
• The impact of international treaties on environmental protection
• The role of regional human rights courts in international law

Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding

• Track I and Track II diplomacy in peace negotiations
• The role of truth and reconciliation commissions in post-conflict societies
• Conflict resolution in the context of ethnic and religious conflicts
• The impact of third-party mediation in international conflicts
• The effectiveness of economic incentives in peace negotiations
• The role of civil society in conflict resolution and peacebuilding
• The challenges of post-conflict justice and reconciliation
• The influence of transitional justice mechanisms in post-conflict societies
• The contribution of peacekeeping missions to conflict prevention
• Reconciliation and post-conflict healing processes in divided societies

International Security and Defense

• The impact of emerging technologies on military strategies
• The role of intelligence agencies in shaping national security policies
• The ethics of autonomous weapons systems in modern warfare
• Nuclear deterrence and its relevance in contemporary international relations
• Civil-military relations in democratic and authoritarian regimes
• The effectiveness of arms control agreements in preventing conflict
• Defense policy and military spending in international politics
• The role of military alliances and collective defense agreements
• Asymmetric warfare and strategies for countering non-state actors
• The ethics of military interventions in humanitarian crises

Humanitarian Interventions and Disaster Relief

• The challenges of humanitarian access in conflict zones
• The ethics of humanitarian intervention in sovereign states
• Disaster risk reduction and international cooperation in disaster response
• The role of humanitarian organizations in refugee crises
• The use of technology in disaster response and early warning systems
• Humanitarian financing and funding mechanisms for crisis response
• The protection of civilians in armed conflicts and humanitarian law
• The impact of climate change on disaster risk and response
• The role of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
• The humanitarian impact of landmines and explosive remnants of war

Research Methodology: International Relations Research Topics

• Once you’ve chosen your research topic, you’ll need to consider the methodology you’ll employ to investigate it. 
• Your methodology includes the research methods you’ll use, data collection techniques, and ethical considerations. 
• Ensure that your chosen methods align with the nature of your research topic and the questions you seek to answer.

Selecting the right international relations research topics is a crucial step in your academic or professional journey. Your chosen topic will shape your research, drive your passion, and contribute to the ever-expanding field of international relations. 

As you explore the vast landscape of potential topics, remember to consider your interests, the relevance of your topic, and the feasibility of your research. In doing so, you’ll embark on a rewarding journey of discovery and contribute to our collective understanding of the complex world of international relations.

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140+ international relations dissertation topics to research.

September 7, 2021

International relation reflects how sovereign states in the world relate with each other through decisions that are influenced by non-governmental organizations on politics, economics, and security. The discipline covers a wide area of subjects such as law, geography, history, politics, and economics.

Most students of international relations work as diplomats, protecting the interest of their countries abroad by representing them in trade agreements, security reach, and other consular services. Therefore, any topics in international relations usually demonstrate the political reach of a country, its legal stand, and economic power.

In this article, we’ll look at the most interesting international relations dissertation topics. We’ll explore topics under terrorism, human rights, politics, and other international relations thesis topics. If you’ve ever been looking for where to get international relations research topics that score you high grades, this article is for you. So, continue reading.

Interesting International Relations Dissertation Topics

International relation is an interdisciplinary field of study that focuses on the relationships between countries. More importantly, students get to explore global issues and solve them scientifically. Looking for general international relations PhD ideas and topics? Take a look at these interesting topics below.

• The world since the first man landed on the moon.
• Nuclear weapons and cyberwars: the new war language.
• The implications of online petitions in international relations.
• The impacts of the Big Tech on world trade and economy.
• The effects of technological laws on foreign trade and investment.
• Explain international relations theories and relate them to the realism of state cooperation.
• Conduct an analysis of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the US and how it shapes the Afghan War.
• Discuss how the United Nations has failed in discharging its duties?
• Explore the implications of the different diplomatic laws among the G7 countries.
• What are the implications of the Abraham Accord between Israel and Arab nations?
• Nuclear Weapons: Analyze Iran and North Korea’s nuclear weapons and impact on global peace.
• Explain how the pandemic influenced global trade and international relations.
• What are the positive and negative impacts of the surge in western cultural adoption in underdeveloped countries?
• Discuss the influence of the United States on global laws, markets, and relations.
• Has the UN been partial in the development of laws and support?
• Illustrate the factors that led to the fall of the Soviet Union and how they shape modern policies.
• Evaluate the cultural impacts of international relations on developing countries.
• Obama, Trump, and Biden: explain how each president oversaw the Afghan War.
• Describe the contribution of major religions to modern-day international agreements.
• Effect of mass migration from developing countries to diversity in the European Union.
• Discuss the International Criminal Court has always been partial in the discharge of justice.
• Cybersecurity and the role of Interpol: Modalities, threat, and significance.
• The China-India foreign policy: What should be done and how to go about it.
• Why Africa is finding it difficult to maintain international relations and how it can be helped.
• The threats and importance of international labour in global trade.

Terrorism Dissertation Ideas and Topics to Research

The very act of terrorism is to create fear within individuals everywhere in the world for global benefits. Counterterrorism and antiterrorism are military tactics, strategies, and trade enforcements countries carry out to prevent terrorism. Find below a list of terrorism dissertation ideas under international relations.

• Impact of the Afghan War on international relations.
• Discuss how the Afghan-US War was lost long before Biden.
• How is the Taliban a terrorist group?
• The value of defence in terrorism wars.
• What emotions bind terrorists to extremist groups?
• Effect of religious extremism on terrorism.
• The significant relationship between terrorism and military functioning.
• Terrorism and the long history of World Wars.
• The Coronavirus pandemic is an act of terrorism.
• A critical review of how terrorism affects global trade.
• Roles of colonial and anticolonial laws in past and future terrorism.
• Terrorist trends from the past to the present.
• Modalities of regional nationalism towards effective counterterrorism.
• How transnational relations influence the rise of terrorism.
• A critical review and study of Turkish terrorism in History.
• A critical assessment and review of American terrorism.
• A critical review and study of English terrorism in History.
• A critical assessment and review of Nazi terror.
• Effect of extremism on foreign direct investments and international banking.
• How terrorism influences international banking decisions across several countries.
• The challenges of counterterrorism in underdeveloped countries.
• Terrorism, technology, and the use of military force.
• The consequences of terrorism using Afghanistan and Syria as examples.
• Impacts of terrorism on global trade and global warming.
• How the Blockchain industry affects counterterrorism strategies.

Politics Dissertation Ideas in International Relations

Since no country exists in isolation of others, every political decision is therefore probed to ensure peaceful coexistence among countries in the world. The following contains a list of politics and international relations dissertation topics.

• Political influence of cyberterrorists on international trade.
• Is cyberterrorism a form of political extremism?
• Terrorism informatics and impact on political relations.
• COVID-19 pandemic as an instrument of geopolitics.
• The UN role in the resolution of the Indo-Pak conflict.
• 9/11 and influence on trade between the US and Middle Belt.
• German foreign policy and impact on the rest of Europe.
• German domination of the EU and impact on the formulation of foreign policies.
• How underdeveloped countries are threats to political forwardness.
• Russia and the USA: Review and assessment of political history.
• Effects and consequences of nuclear weapons to global politics.
• Role of the UN in the resolution of Pakistan-Israel relations.
• A critical review of the political role of the UN in civil wars.
• Application of cyber-political theories to international relations.
• Role of international relations on the politics of military functioning.
• How the West and Russia shape the modern perspective of political history.
• China and the West: A critical analysis of major political decisions then and now.
• The Chinese economy is a threat to modern world power and security.
• The Chinese economy is needed in modern world power and security.
• Questioning the political neutrality of the UN’s major decisions.
• Political theories and the changing norms of international relations.
• The geopolitics of the West in the Afghan War.
• Consequences of the geopolitics of the West in the surge of terrorism and extremism.
• A critical review and assessment of the political relations between the US and the Arabs.
• The uprising of the Middle East against the US.

Human Rights Dissertation Topics

Human rights are the fundamental rights of every human that must be protected by all countries. These rights shape international relations decisions and agreements to trade and power. The rights further embody the dignity that every human should be accorded. Here are common human rights dissertation topics and research ideas.

• Revisioning women’s rights in the Middle East.
• An in-depth assessment of the historical context of human rights.
• Universal human rights: the theoretical and practical.
• Why democratic human rights cannot work in Africa.
• Human rights in major religions: Islam and Christianity.
• Impacts of the modern perspective of human rights.
• Historical reforms on human rights then and now.
• Human rights and westernism: differences and similarities.
• Human rights as a major determiner of world poverty.
• Gender inequality and the concept of human rights.
• African leadership as a major influence on human rights.
• A critical assessment of China’s political human rights.
• Terrorist and extremist impacts on fundamental rights.
• The rations and sentiments of western human rights.
• Do human rights treaties foster respect among countries?
• Exploring the ten commandments for human rights.
• Human rights in war-ravaged countries: Syria and Afghanistan.
• The struggle for human rights in Africa and the Middle East.
• Taiwan and China: Human rights as major political concerns.
• North Korea and the effects of human rights protectionism.
• Why cybersecurity is a concern of human rights.
• Technology and privacy: the end of human rights.
• Human rights crisis in the West through the impact of racism.
• The fundamental rights of women in Saudi Arabia.
• Rights of humans during wars and Western passivity.

International Relations Economics Dissertation Topics

Economics is the business of goods, needs, and survival. Every country is motivated by self-sufficiency and needs sustenance, hence economics is an integrative study in international relations. If you are looking to write on international relations economics dissertation topics, here are popular ones that guarantee you top grades.

• The implication of the Blockchain industry on international trade and relations.
• Impacts of taxation on trade agreement and security.
• The impact of tax on world poverty alleviation systems.
• The implication of internet banking on global terrorism.
• Investigating the relationship between trade and war.
• Effect of UN economic policies on global trade relations.
• Impact of trade liberalization on the global employment rate.
• Global inflation and effect on world immigration policies.
• The oil sector and the agricultural sector and their influence on regional and international conflict.
• Impact of the oil industry on environmental globalization.
• Role of insurance policies and companies on global trade.
• Effects of cashless policy on cybersecurity and terrorism.
• A critical study of the determinants of foreign investment policy.
• An analysis of the global population on financial technology.
• Impact of agricultural imperialism on trade and global warming.
• How regional agricultural economic policies lead to global war and threat.
• Role of the UN in facilitating effective global trade policies.
• The rise of global trade monopoly: A case of the Big Tech.
• An analysis of technological revolution and impact on global sustainability.
• Does technological monopoly suggest global western economic monopoly?
• Effect of cryptocurrency on economic disinformation and misinformation.
• Global economic relations twenty years from now.
• The neutrality of the UN in the performance of world trade liberalization.
• The significant relationship between the financial sector and world poverty index.
• The significant relationship between global poverty index and terrorism.

Globalization Topics and Ideas in International Relations

When countries begin to operate within their sovereign rights and other countries’ sovereign rights for mutual benefits, it is known as globalization. The world today is linked as if it is a single entity by telecommunications. Here are globalization topics and ideas in international relations you should be looking at for grades.

• Threats and impacts of globalization on Africa.
• The social and political implications of globalization.
• Why globalization is a western concept.
• Why globalization is not just a western concept.
• The drive for world power and globalization as a tool.
• The energy consequences of globalization.
• Globalization and the erosion of natural languages.
• The psychological impacts of globalization and foreign cultures.
• Globalization: theory, practice, ethics, and implications.
• The implicit concept of globalization is an assimilation strategy of western power.
• How globalization influences terrorism, counterterrorism, and military functioning.
• The drive for global power and authority: trade wars and the rise of nuclear weapons.
• Globalization: why world international relations tomorrow is not a guarantee.
• The global market is a myth.
• Media and technology: Two major factors that decide the global market and globalization culture.
• The globalization of law, culture, economy, and education.
• History of globalization beyond the internet.
• The making and remaking of globalization twenty years from now.
• Challenges of technology and globalization in the Middle East and Africa.
• The erosion of diversity through the implications of world trade, global laws, and international relations.
• A critical review and assessment of world religions on global warming and trade.
• Globalization: A comparative assessment of the US and China global market strategies.
• Globalization in the 20th century and how it shaped modern global decisions.
• The psychological impacts of international trade agreements on national citizens.
• Globalization is the end of international relations.

Does Your International Relations Essay Need Improving?

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Education Related Topics

International Relations Research Topics

International relations is a multifaceted field that examines the interactions and relationships between countries, international organizations, and global actors. Here are some international relations research topics to consider:

• The role of international organizations (e.g., UN, WTO, IMF) in shaping global governance.
• The effectiveness of global governance structures in addressing contemporary challenges.
• Analyzing the causes and consequences of interstate conflicts.
• The impact of nuclear deterrence on international security and peace.
• Examining the role of diplomacy in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
• Analyzing successful and unsuccessful negotiation processes in international relations.
• Investigating the enforcement mechanisms of international human rights law.
• The effectiveness of international criminal courts in prosecuting war crimes and human rights abuses.
• Analyzing the impact of globalization on international trade and economic development.
• The role of multinational corporations in shaping global economic policies.
• Examining international cooperation on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• Analyzing the geopolitics of resource scarcity and environmental conflicts.
• The role of regional organizations (e.g., EU, ASEAN) in promoting regional stability and cooperation.
• Comparative analysis of regional integration processes in different parts of the world.
• Analyzing the formulation and implementation of foreign policies by major powers.
• The role of ideology and leadership in shaping foreign policy decisions.
• Investigating the ethical and legal aspects of humanitarian interventions.
• Analyzing the application of the R2P principle in international crises.
• Examining the evolving landscape of cyber threats and state responses.
• Analyzing the use of disinformation and cyberattacks in international relations.
• The impact of mass migration on international relations and host countries.
• Analyzing global refugee policies and the role of international organizations.
• Investigating the influence of nationalist and populist movements on foreign policy.
• Analyzing the impact of nationalism on international cooperation.
• Examining the complex dynamics of conflicts in the Middle East.
• The role of external actors in Middle East politics and conflicts.
• Analyzing China’s growing influence in global politics and economics.
• The Belt and Road Initiative’s impact on international trade and geopolitics.
• Examining the challenges and opportunities of denuclearization efforts on the Korean Peninsula.
• Analyzing the role of regional and global powers in addressing the North Korean nuclear issue.

When choosing an international relations research topic, consider your academic interests, access to relevant data and sources, and the significance of the topic in the context of contemporary global affairs. Additionally, be sure to review any specific guidelines or requirements provided by your academic institution or research publication outlet.

Steve George is Blogger, a marketer and content writer. He has B.A. in Economics from the University of Washington. Read more about Mzuri Mag .

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War and Conflict Research Resources

Below are links to databases and electronic resources that support the study of international conflict and war and related areas of research.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION--SPECIALIZED HANDBOOKS

Handbooks are useful for obtaining background information about contemporary theories, concepts, issues, events, or topics and for understanding how scholars have debated a specific area of study. These handbooks are available either electronically and/or located on the book shelves in the Medicine Crow Center Library for International and Public Affairs .

Peacebuilding

Cante, Freddy and Hartmut Quehl. Handbook of Research on Transitional Justice and Peace Building in Turbulent Regions . Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference, 2016. [Medicine Crow Library Bookstacks JC571 .H34757 2016] This book focuses on issues facing nations and regions where poverty and conflict are endangering the lives of citizens as well as the socio-economic viability of those regions, highlighting theoretical discussions about conflict, violence, nonviolence, transitional justice, and peace building from different views and disciplines. Content includes explanations of some particular cases of transitional justice and peace building like Germany, Nicaragua, Sudan, Eritrea, Syria and Cambodia.

Conflict and War

MULTIDISCIPLINARY DATABASES

Databases that offer multidisciplinary coverage of conflict and war literature from scholarly and non-scholarly sources.

• Credo Reference -- comprehensive collection of highly-specialized dictionaries, encyclopedias, and handbooks across all subject areas. Good place to go for succinct definitions, explanations, and analysis of concepts, theories, or topics.
• Google Scholar -- the scholarly part of the Google empire. To set up Google Scholar with access to full-text journals and databases, go here .
• JSTOR -- a multidisciplinary archive of scholarly journal articles covering most major disciplines in the social sciences and humanities. Useful for identifying historical research on a topic.
• Oxford Handbooks Online -- contains in-depth, high-level articles covering a variety of disciplines. Entries offer a thorough introduction to topics and a critical survey of the current state of scholarship, creating an original conception of the field and setting the agenda for new research.
• ProQuest Multiple -- comprehensive, multidisciplinary database of newspaper, magazine, and scholarly journal articles updated daily. Content is more focused and manageable in locating relevant research than Google Scholar .

SPECIALIZED RESEARCH RESOURCES

Key Databases

• Columbia International Affairs Online [CIAO] -- provides the full text of a wide range of scholarship books, working papers from universities and research institutes, occasional papers series from NGOs, foundation-funded research projects, and proceedings from conferences.
• Homeland Security Digital Library -- provides access to documents related to homeland security policy, strategy, and organizational management collected from federal, state, tribal, and local government agencies, professional organizations, think tanks, academic institutions, and international governing bodies.
• Military Database -- covers topics across all government and military branches, including international relations, political science, criminology, defense, aeronautics and space flight, communications, civil engineering, and more. Included among its contents are scholarly journals, trade and industry journals, magazines, technical reports, conference proceedings, government publications, and more.
• Military and Intelligence Database Collection -- provides access to scholarly journals, magazines, and reports covering all aspects of the past and current state of military affairs. The database offers content in key subject areas including governmental policies, the socioeconomic effects of war, the structure of the armed forces, and more.
• Public Affairs Information Services [PAIS] -- indexes selective subjects and bibliographic access to periodicals, books, hearings, reports, gray literature, government publications, Internet resources, and other publications from 120 countries. Includes historical coverage from 1915 to the present.

Related Research Resources

• African Peace Agreement Database -- explores the human rights aspects of power-sharing peace agreements in Sub-Saharan Africa. The database provides content analysis access to 82 peace agreements from twenty African countries concerning the nature and pattern of the human rights provisions included in power-sharing deals signed since the end of the cold war in 1989 to 2011.
• Directory of Charities and Nonprofit Organizations -- directory of International Peace and Security U.S. charities and other nonprofit organizations maintained by GuideStar, an organization that gathers, organizes, and distributes information on non-profit organizations.
• Foreign Affairs Online -- this web site directory has been specifically designed to assist students and researchers interested in international relations, international law, and U.S. foreign policy. It has an extensive group of links to general reference, map, and media resources, U.S. and foreign government websites, and websites related to human rights and international organizations. An excellent place to begin your search for scholarly resources on the Internet.
• Global Conflict Tracker -- an interactive guide to ongoing conflicts around the world of concern to the United States. The map displays nearly thirty conflicts with background information and resources on each conflict.
• Global Terrorism Database -- an open-source database providing information on terrorist events around the world from 1970 through 2013, with additional annual updates. The database includes systematic data on domestic as well as transnational and international terrorist incidents that have occurred; it now includes more than 125,000 cases. For each incident, information is available on the date and location of the incident, the weapons used and nature of the target, the number of casualties, and, when identifiable, the group or individual responsible.
• HeinOnline Law Journal Library -- full text access to digitized content of more than 2,600 law and law-related periodicals that cover criminal justice, political science, technology, human rights, and more. Coverage for all journals is from first issue and volume through the current issue or volume for most titles.
• Historical Abstracts -- this database includes key history journals from major countries, as well as relevant selected journals from the social sciences and humanities. Covers world history outside of the United States and Canada. All abstracts are in English.
• Housmans World Peace Database -- a comprehensive and up-to-date listing of 3000 national and international peace-related organizations, in particular, covering grassroots groups and campaigns which work for peace and reconciliation and against the causes of war. In addition to essential contact information, there is also an indication of the nature of the organization and its areas of concern; many entries also have notes giving additional information. It also includes some major organizations in related fields such as environmental and human rights campaigning.
• International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) Incidents and Activists Database -- a comprehensive survey of the most all-encompassing non-governmental resources on terrorist incidents in the world. Based on comprehensive and integrated information compiled since 1975, the database records over 33,000 incidents, including successful terror attacks, foiled attacks, and counter-terror operations, along with background and follow-up information. All material is interlinked and cross-referenced in order to provide the user with an interactive system for retrieving data in an intuitive manner.
• Language of Peace Database -- an innovative tool to search provisions of peace agreements. It provides easy access to compare and collate language on key issues across more than 75,000 provisions of approximately 1,000 peace agreements. The database is accompanied by case studies on each of the twenty-six main issue areas identified in the database. These case studies analyze the practice of peace agreements in relation to each issue area against the background of general international law, with a view to highlighting settlement options for use in ongoing or future peace negotiations, and identifying advances of (or deviations from) universal legal standards.
• Mass Violence and Resistance Research Network – a regularly updated electronic database focusing on massacres and genocides of the 20th century. Resources provided include chronological indexes, case studies, analytical contributions on socio-political violence in a given country, a glossary of the terms most often used in the field of genocide studies as well as theoretical papers written by the most representative scholars in the field.
• National Defense University, Digital Collections -- an online gateway to a diverse and growing variety of electronic collections and items produced or acquired by the NDU Library in support of the university's teaching, research, repository and outreach missions. The resources include items in print (including .doc, pdf, and html), image, audio and video formats.
• Security Issues Online -- a multimedia collection on key world affairs issues including coverage of topics related to borders and migrations, human rights violations, security, revolution and protest, and the environment. The database contains 575,000 pages including rare, previously-unpublished archival material, 900 hours of video, 3,000 photographs.
• SIPRI Yearbook -- the yearbook provides an overview of developments in international security, weapons and technology, military expenditure, the arms trade and arms production, and armed conflicts, along with efforts to control conventional, nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
• Social Conflict Analysis Database -- facilitates analysis of conflict patterns and possible intervention strategies in Africa and Latin America. The newly updated and extended version of SCAD covers all of Africa and now also Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The system includes protests, riots, strikes, inter-communal conflict, government violence against civilians, and other forms of social conflict not systematically tracked in other conflict datasets. SCAD currently includes information on nearly 20,000 social conflict events from 1990 to 2015. Each event record contains information on the location, timing, and magnitude of social conflict events, as well as the actors, targets, issues of contention, and government response.
• Transitional Justice Peace Agreement Database -- accesses over 640 peace agreements in over 85 jurisdictions. It provides information on some of the key issues addressed by the agreements [e.g., women] and a search engine for locating which agreements have dealt with these issues. The collection includes: proposed agreements not accepted by all relevant parties (but setting a framework); agreements between some but not all parties to conflicts; agreements essentially imposed after a military victory; joint declarations largely rhetorical in nature; agreed accounts of meetings between parties even where these do not create substantive obligations. In cases where a series of partial agreements were later incorporated into a single framework agreement, all of the constituent agreements are listed separately. Also included are specific pieces of legislation, constitutions, interim constitutions, constitutional amendments, or UN Security Council resolutions that were the outcomes of peace negotiations.
• War and Terrorism Collection -- a database that provides access to academic journals and magazines of interest to analysts, risk management professionals, and students of military science, history, and social science. The database offers balanced coverage of both historic and contemporary topics in the fields of war and terrorism.

GROUP PERSPECTIVE

Databases that offer the opportunity to understand and contemplate the implications of conflict and war through the eyes of people who may be most impacted.

• AgeLine -- focuses exclusively on issues of aging and the population of people aged 50 years and older from individual, national, and global perspectives. Contents cover the social, psychological, economic, policy, and health care aspects of aging derived from journal articles, books and chapters, research reports, and dissertations.
• Child Development and Adolescent Studies   -- provides citations to current and historical social and behavioral sciences literature related to growth and development of children through the age of 21, including from scholarly journals, technical reports, books, book chapters, and theses and dissertations. Key database for locating studies about the effect of war on children, children's rights, and issues such the use of child soldiers.
• Family and Society Studies Worldwide -- covers research, policy, and practice literature in family science, human development, child and family welfare, civil and legal rights, and social welfare from a wide range of publications in the social sciences. Includes research about the relationship and impact of armed conflict on families.
• Sociological Abstracts -- a resource for accessing research in sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. The database draws information from an international selection of over 2,600 journals, conference papers, books, and dissertations.
• Women’s Studies International -- an interdisciplinary database that covers issues in women's studies including feminist theory and history and the areas of sociology, history, political science and economy, public policy, international relations, arts and humanities, business and education. Key database for locating studies about the effect of war on women and women's role in conflict and peace building.

DATA AND STATISTICS--COMPREHENSIVE

• Google Dataset Search -- facilitates searching approximately 25 million datasets provided by government, public, and private groups. Users can filter results based on the type of data desired [e.g., images or text]. Data availability is based on the original source being formatted using schema.org standards, an open discovery standard for data on the web.
• National Statistical Offices -- a directory of country-specific statistical agencies maintained and updated by the United Nations Statistics Division. Also included is a list of countries and organizations which includes a brief history of the country's statistical system, legal basis, the statistical program and much more.
• UNData -- searchable statistical database provided by the United Nations Statistics Division that provides access to current statistics. The database covers a number of different areas such as employment, industry, and trade. A single interface facilitates the creation of customizable tables and the use of various filters and search options to sort and locate specific statistical information.

DATA AND STATISTICS--SPECIALIZED

War and Conflict

• Armed Conflict Location and Events Dataset -- ACLED is a comprehensive open access collection of political violence data for developing states, primarily in Africa and Asia. These data contain information on the specific dates and locations of political violence, the types of event, the groups involved, fatalities and changes in territorial control. Information is recorded on the battles, killings, riots, and recruitment activities of rebels, governments, militias, armed groups, protesters and civilians. Event data are derived primarily from reports from war zones, humanitarian agencies, and research publications.
• Correlates of War Project -- an on-going project that collects data on the systematic accumulation of scientific knowledge about war. The site includes datasets covering country codes; inter-state, intra-state, non-state, and extra-state war; militarized interstate disputes; national material capabilities; alliances; contiguity; territorial change; IGOs; and bilateral trade. Data is updated as new information becomes available.
• Countries at Risk of Electoral Violence -- gathered by the Project on Explaining and Mitigating Electoral Violence, this site provides detailed dyadic information on electoral violence in 101 countries between 1995 and 2013 covering national-level legislative and executive contests only. Electoral violence is measured in a ten-month window around each election. Site also includes working papers that develop and test a series of theoretical propositions about the causes of electoral violence and assess the impact of practical interventions designed to mitigate it.
• Coup D'état Project -- University of Illinois project that compiles, for 165 countries in the post WWII era, a comprehensive listing, documentation, and categorization of coups for use by researchers. The project is ongoing, but variables include date, COW country code, type of coup, and multiple indicators categorizing the actors involved, means used, and outcome of the coup attempts.
• Coups in the World -- provides a list of coups by country and by country and year. Coups is defined as "illegal and overt attempts by the military or other elites within the state apparatus to unseat the sitting executive," and successes as episodes in which the perpetrators control power for at least seven days. Produced at the University of Central Florida, all data on the site are updated continuously.
• Data on Armed Conflict and Security Project -- in addition to relevant publications, this site offers access to three data sources: the Event Data on Armed Conflict and Security Project that compiles and analyzes spatially and temporally disaggregated data on the use of violence in the context of civil wars in Sub-Sahara-Africa, starting with the end of the cold war until 2009; the Consolidated List of Wars which aims at simplifying comparisons of data quality and data collection in the field of quantitative research on the causes and dynamics of war; and, the Private Security Database that collects data on the use of Private Military and Security Companies by governments and international organizations in areas of limited statehood, and asks in general who consumed what kind of private security in failing states (where, for how long). The data are focused on a specific set of countries that experienced state failure or even collapse in at least one year during 1990–2007.
• Integrated Network for Societal Conflict Research Datasets -- prepared by researchers associated with the Center for Systemic Peace, the site provides various cross-national, time-series conflict datasets, including data on forcibly displaced populations, major episodes of political violence, ethnic and revolutionary war, genocide, high casualty terrorist bombings, failed/fragile states, and successful, attempted, plotted, and alleged coup events. Dates of coverage vary by dataset but mostly cover the 1950s to the present.
• IISS Armed Conflict Database -- provides access to figures and summary narratives on both international and internal armed conflicts in the world, whether dormant or active, since about 1960. Focus is on wars, terrorism, refugees and returnees, Internally Displaced Persons, fatalities, specific weapons used and their flows, and economic costs. Non-state parties are also covered.
• Minorities at Risk (MAR) Project -- a research project that monitors and analyzes the status and conflicts of politically-active communal groups in all countries with a current population of at least 500,000. The project currently maintains data on 283 politically active ethnic groups. The centerpiece of the project is a dataset that tracks groups on political, economic, and cultural dimensions.
• Political Instability Task Force Worldwide Atrocities Dataset -- a dataset that describes, in quantitative terms, the deliberate killing of non-combatant civilians in the context of a wider political conflict. This data collection project, which is still ongoing, is intended to advance efforts to understand and anticipate atrocities, i.e., the deliberate use of lethal violence against non-combatant civilians by actors engaged in a wider political or military conflict. The effective date of data in this dataset is 1 January 1995 to the present date. Data are updated monthly.
• Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict -- measures reports of the conflict-related sexual violence committed by armed actors during the years 1989-2019. Site includes reports of conflict-related sexual violence committed by government/state military, pro-government militias, and rebel/insurgent forces. Covers all state-based conflicts active in the years 1989-2019, as defined by the UCDP/PRIO Armed Conflict Database. Data were collected for all years of active conflict [defined by 25 battle deaths or more per year] and for five years post-conflict. Includes information about the prevalence, perpetrators, victims, forms, timing, and locations of the reported sexual violence by each armed actor in each conflict-year.
• Small Arms Survey -- generates evidence-based, impartial, and policy-relevant knowledge and analysis on small arms and armed violence issues for governments, policy-makers, researchers, and civil society. Site includes five major global databases: Global Violent Deaths, Global Firearms Holdings, Peace Operations Data Set, Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer, and Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites.
• Social Conflict Analysis Database -- SCAD includes protests, riots, strikes, inter-communal conflict, government violence against civilians, and other forms of social conflict not systematically tracked in other conflict datasets. It currently includes information on thousands of events from 1990 to 2017, covering Africa, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
• Terrorism and Preparedness Data Resource Center -- now part of the ICPSR database, TPDRC archives and distributes data collected by government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and researchers about the nature of intra-domestic and international terrorism incidents, organizations, perpetrators, and victims; governmental and nongovernmental responses to terror, including primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions; and citizen's attitudes towards terrorism, terror incidents, and the response to terror.
• United Nations Register of Conventional Arms -- contains access to reports from more than 170 nation-states covering seven categories of arms, which are deemed the most offensive ones. Recently, report now include most country's imports or exports of small arms in their yearly reports. Reports may also include information about current military holdings and national defense policies, procurement through national production, and national arms export legislation and on what further policies export decisions are based.
• Uppsala Conflict Data Program/ Peace Research Institute Oslo Armed Conflict Datasets -- UCDP/PRIO provides a variety of datasets on organized violence in multiple data formats, including individual events of organized violence, geo-referenced events data, and conflict-year datasets. An excellent starting point for obtaining statistics.
• xSub: Cross-National Data on Subnational Violence [ Copy and paste this link: http://cross-sub.org/ ] -- a repository of micro-level, subnational event data on armed conflict and contention around the world. Our goal is to preserve and consolidate multiple open-source data collections in one comprehensive electronic archive, creating a “database of databases” for purposes of research, education, policy-making and evaluation. The archive currently includes data on armed conflict and contention from 156 countries (1969-2017), from 21 data sources, including both large data collections and individual scholars. The data are available as individual events, and as analysis-ready spatial panel datasets.

Peace and Security

• Diplometrics Datasets -- project at the University of Denver that provides databases on international organizations, diplomatic exchange (embassies), and treaties monitored by the United Nations, producing data sets on non-state actors including international non-governmental organizations, multinational corporations and transnational organized crime. There are tools to help visualize and structure the data. Generally covers 1945 to present.
• International Crisis Behavior Dataset -- located at Duke University, this project investigates the sources, processes, and outcomes of all military-security crises since the end of World War I. There is a system-level dataset covering the crises and another covering the actors. Includes scores of variables covering onset; actor attributes, behavior, and crisis management; superpower activity; involvement by international organizations; mediation and outcome; and more. Also includes text summaries of each crisis.
• International Peace Institute Peacekeeping Database -- drawing from UN archival records, the IPI at George Washington University presents data on peacekeeping missions of total uniformed personnel contributions by country, month, type [troop, police, or expert/observer], and by mission starting in 1990 forward. Also included are data on gender and assessed contributions.
• PA-X Peace Agreement Database -- a database and repository of peace agreements from 1990 to the present. The site provides a comprehensive dataset of peace agreements from 1990 to end of 2018. PA-X contains 1789 agreements in over 140 peace processes with coding of provisions for 230 substantive categories such as power-sharing, women, and transitional justice. It enables search permutations which can disaggregate the data by country, entity, region, conflict type, and stage of agreement; and allows examination of different combinations of issues addressed.
• Peace Accords Matrix -- database of qualitative and quantitative longitudinal data on the implementation of 34 Comprehensive Peace Agreements (CPAs) negotiated in civil wars between 1989 and 2012. The population of agreements is in two dimensions: the major parties to the conflict were involved in the negotiations that led to the written agreement; and the substantive issues underlying the conflict were included in the negotiations. The implementation history of each provision in an accord is tracked and scored, yielding a ten year implementation score for each accord. Produced at the University of Notre Dame, the database can be searched by keyword, accord, or provision type.
• Peace Research Institute Oslo -- provides datasets on governance, armed conflict, geographical and resources, mapping arms data, and economic and socio-demographic data derived from various projects and program sponsored by the institute. The site also includes a searchable  bibliography of more than 1250 references to books, book chapters, articles and reports dealing with various conflict-related issues.
• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute -- SIPRI produces research and data on security and conflict. SIPRI has databases on military expenditures, arms transfers, arms embargoes, and peacekeeping operations. Also included is the SIPRI Yearbook that provides an overview of developments in international security, weapons and technology, military expenditure, the arms trade and arms production, and armed conflicts, along with efforts to control conventional, nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

Descriptions of resources are adapted or quoted from vendor websites.

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177 Top-Tier International Relations Research Topics

International relations refers to practice and study concerned with the unique relationships existing between different nations and cultures. It is one of the most highly esteemed fields of study, especially with the lucrative job offers that one can land. Nonetheless, you have to write topics in international relations for you to graduate at your college or university level or you can buy homework online .

Although most students perceive this course as easy compared to others, such as law, it has its share of difficulties. First, students will have to be informed on the international happenings and various diplomatic efforts among nations. It is not easy for most students, and thus the task of coming up with international relations research paper topics might be daunting.

So, before your dream of becoming an ambassador comes to reality, have a look at these inspiring international relations topics that our professional writers have put together. You can pick any international relations topics that fit your assignment criteria and proceed to your writing with all confidence.

Table of Contents

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• Discuss the impact of coronavirus restrictions in international relationships
• What is the role of the United Nations in spearheading global unity?
• Explore the effect of the different diplomatic relations among nations
• The contribution of international bodies in fostering global security
• Discuss the threat of terrorism: A case study of the 9/11 terrorist attack in the US
• CondU.S.t an analysis of the global finance chain among different nations
• What factors necessitate the interactions between developing and developed countries?
• The role of nuclear proliferation among various G7 members
• Discuss the essence of human rights in the international arena
• A systematic analysis of the unit-level concepts applied in international relations
• Factors affecting the achievement of sustainable development goals globally
• The role of place sovereignty in the global space
• Discuss the role of the post-positivist/reflectivist theories
• How the normative theories explain the specific trends existing in the world politics
• Analyze the impact of material forces in the epistemology theory
• How positivist theories replicate the methods of natural sciences in the international arena
• What are the limitations of the realism theory in determining power-seeking rational actors
• The cooperation between states: A case study of the realism theory
• Why the view of states as key actors in the international system is a limitation of the liberalism theory
• Discuss the rise of liberal international relations theory after World War I
• Do states remain cooperative irrespective of relative gains in neoliberalism theory?
• Why it may not be easy to achieve cooperation in the anarchic system of states
• The relative role of material forces in the social constructivism theory
• Evaluate the Marxist and Neo-Marxist theories of international relations
• Should the world embark on a disarming mission of nuclear weapons?
• Discuss the role of the Game Theory in determining the vaccine rollout program
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Abraham Accords between Israel and Muslim nations?
• Why should the US reconcile its partnerships in the Middle East?
• The effectiveness of the American efforts to speed up plodding Afghan peace talks
• Principles that govern the formulation of international initiatives
• Discuss the impact of conspiracies: A case study of China and the USA
• Should the United States withdraw its forces from Afghanistan?
• How the use of the bioweapons Treaty can help address pandemics
• Review the prominent international relations theorists
• Discuss the consequences of techno-cultural pluralism among nations
• Analyze the Iran nuclear deal and its implications to the global peace security
• How can non-state military strategies help overturn traditional perspectives on warfare?
• What is the impact of countries meddling in the elections of other states?
• How to deal with malicious state behavior in cyberspace
• The role of international security experts in contributing to world peace
• What hurdles does the Iran-Russia cyber agreement pose to the United States?
• The impact of the siege of the US capital on the global democracy
• What is the impact of the revolutionary upheavals at the end of the War?
• The achievements of imperial Russia and imperial Germany
• How has the War on terror affected the security measures of different countries?
• The impact of domestic legislation on international relations
• Discuss the proliferation of the Western culture in the developing nations
• Discuss the trade relations between different nations during the coronavirus pandemic
• Is the United States policing the rest of the world?
• Discuss how different nations’ laws related to the international law
• Do some countries in the global arena overstep others, incredibly the least developed?
• To what extent does the development of nuclear power affect foreign policies
• Reasons why China’s growth as an economic power is threatening the United States
• How the unstable world of rapidly shifting alliances involves liberal internationalism
• Discuss the impact of the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union
• The role of geopolitical power in determining foreign policies among nations
• Do the current foreign policies lack strategy, especially in the implementation?
• Why the free movement of people across borders is a hindrance to foreign policies
• How countries use economic, military, and diplomatic power in advancing their global agendas
• Analyze the implications of the Western involvement in Africa
• The role of ancient tribal traditions and religious beliefs in international relations
• Fundamental causes of political power struggles among African nations
• Efforts made by the UN General Assembly in uniting the world
• Factors that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union
• Is the world still grappling with the cold War, mainly affecting the COVID-19 pandemic?
• The threat of China as a nation to the Western ideals
• Why should international relations scholars use culture to develop or extend their understanding of global politics?
• Discuss the visual, literary, popular, and material factors in international relations
• Evaluate the culture of international relations
• What are the theoretical and methodological approaches underpinning the study of international relations?
• Compare and contrast the foreign policies of the US and China.
• What are the implications of trump’s administration to international relations?
• Explore the subject of extremism and religiously-motivated terrorism
• Evaluate the role of religion in driving global, ethnic, and international conflict
• What are the implications of the notions of just war, jihad, and holy War?
• Describe the contribution of religion to international conflict resolution.
• What is the most significant achievement of the United Nations?
• The impact of forming closer political relations between member states
• Discuss how some nations discriminate against others in the formation of relations
• The impact of the increasing E.U. member states
• The most detrimental foreign policies to the unity of the world
• The role of large scale migration from the Middle East to the European Union
• Discuss the immediate aftermath of the World Wars
• The role of coronavirus in fostering recession of the global economies
• Discuss the role of the International Criminal Court in maintaining the law
• Investigate the rapid growth of the Chinese economy
• What is the need for the Universal Healthcare program?
• How to achieve inclusive globalization in the world
• An overview of the strategies used in championing world peace
• A report on the development and reconciliation of peace treaties
• What is the role of the U.S. Air force in defeating ISIS?
• The impact of vaccine nationalism in combating the coronavirus
• Global institutions and norms that threaten world peace
• The role of Interpol in combating crimes along borders
• Is it wise to strengthen the U.S.-Taiwan relations?
• Will US-Iran relations improve under Biden’s administration?
• Is it possible to strengthen the China-India foreign policies?
• The role of ambassadors in advancing foreign policies between nations
• How ideology affects the formation of foreign policies
• Discuss the American foreign policy about global democracy
• Elaborate on the aspect of isolation in the formation of foreign policies
• How have the gulf war policies affected relations with other parts of the world?
• Discuss the efficacy of the World Health Organization
• Elaborate on the concept of nationalism information of foreign policies
• How is national security a key pillar of information of foreign policies?
• Why countries are having trouble implementing treaties
• Discuss the Latin American foreign policies during the Reagan years
• What is the impact of the US Nuclear War Policy on its foreign relations?
• How countries can balance between foreign and domestic policies
• How to craft policies and business solutions to meet the challenges of today and the future
• The place of multinational corporations in the global arena
• Is the international relations curriculum in the US sufficient enough?
• Discuss the factors affecting global and regional trends
• Evaluate geographic regions and their interconnections through political treaties
• Cultural and ethnic affinities affecting globalization
• The impact of hierarchies of power and wealth in international relations
• Discuss the most pressing issues and dynamic world regions today
• The contribution of individual states to international development
• How is international labor playing out in the world?
• The impact of international migration
• How to technologically change the world through international relations
• A case study of a university’s humanities and social science departments
• How large intergovernmental organizations shape the world
• The social-psychological understandings of the foreign policymaking process
• Barriers to implementing the Arab Gulf reconciliation
• Threats to national defense strategies to the US
• Impact of U.S. China relations dominating the Biden plan
• The effects of state-backed cyber campaigns
• The role of international relations in discrimination against LGBTIQ people
• Why virtual schools may be a hindrance to globalization
• Does social media make the world a global village?
• Discuss the impacts of the first phase of coronavirus on world relations

• Blending the fields of economics and history in international relations
• The start of world wars and the maintenance of peace
• Describe the nature and exercise of power within the global system
• The dynamic character of state and non-state actors who participate in international decision-making
• The psychological and social-psychological reasoning behind international treaties
• The institutional processes that contribute to the goals and behaviors of states
• How international relations promote successful trade policies between nations
• The role of IR in encouraging travel and immigration
• How IR provI.R.es people with an opportunity to enhance their lives
• IR in allowing cooperation between nations
• How nations solve global issues through IR
• International relations and pandemics
• IR and human culture
• The Soviet Union ideology
• Recruiting developing nations
• Chinese communist party
• The IMF structure
• Human rights in Africa
• Causes of global poverty
• The difference in administrative structures
• Causes of Syrian conflicts
• Power battles
• Causes of American Revolution
• Ethics in elections
• Republican traditions
• Global development policies
• Post-election violence globally
• Common morality
• Corruption in the world
• Global interdependence of modern leaders
• Social movements
• Role of Plato in international relations
• Anarchism history
• Afghanistan conflict
• CAR rebellion causes
• African-Americans relations
• Iran oil conflict
• News coverage and I.R.
• Mediation processes and I.R.
• Role of whistleblowers
• The Arctica power distribution
• Collaboration among countries
• Mexico and immigration
• Religion and social power

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What are the topics for international relations?

The topics for international relations are: How will America and its allies benefit from rising China? A look at the Cold War and American hegemony, communication across cultures, Youth Movement Protest- analysis, Should the United States withdraw its forces from Afghanistan? When choosing international relations topics, you should know they are about finding the best solution.

What are the research areas of international relations?

The research areas of international relations are; International Security, International political economy, international Law and Organizations, Foreign Policy Analysis, International Environmental Politics, Global Governance, and International Communication.

What are some examples of international relations?

Some examples of International relations are foreign policy, nuclear proliferation, terrorism, diplomacy, International organization, conflict, Culture exchange, Humanitarian aid, and trade. These topics refer to the interaction and relationship between countries or other factors in the international system.

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International Relations and Geopolitics Dissertation Topics

Published by Carmen Troy at January 9th, 2023 , Revised On August 16, 2023

Introduction

Are you in search of the best dissertation topics on International Relations and Geopolitics?

To help you get a jump-start at mind-mapping and lifting off with International Relations and Geopolitics dissertation, we have formalized a list of the latest trending topics for you. These international relations and geopolitics dissertation topics have been scrutinised by our highly qualified writers to ensure that they can serve as a basis for your dissertation so that you may select them without any doubt.

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Review the full list of dissertation topics for 2022 here.

2022 International Relations and Geopolitics Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: russia-israel relationship and its impact on syria and the middle east..

Research Aim: Russia and Israel share significant aspects of their strategic cultures. Both countries have a siege mentality and are led by a security-first mindset and a predominantly military view of authority. p   Russia’s relationship with Israel has grown in importance in the context of Russia’s military operation in Syria. This study aims to examine the relations between Russia and Israel and how they have impacted Syria and the middle east—focusing on different policies, agreements, and military interventions.

Topic 2: The Impact of International Refugee Laws on Incidence of Human trafficking- A Case of Refugees on the Eastern EU border

Research Aim: This study aims to find the impact of international refugee laws on the incidence of human trafficking in the Eastern EU border. It will determine whether the international refugee laws have a statistically significant effect on the incidence of human trafficking. Furthermore, it will link EU immigration policies and international refugee laws to show how these encourage or discourage human trafficking. Lastly, it will also recommend how the EU can reduce the incidence of human trafficking through more flexible immigration policies following international refugee laws.

Topic 3: The rise of China as a superpower- Impact on Russia’s relationship with the west.

Research Aim: The Asia-pacific region has become the centre of global economic and political gravity. This region has enormous natural resources, industrial financial and people potential. As the focus of global growth turns to the East, Russia sess Asia-pacific region as the engine of the global economy with rising China as a superpower.   This study will focus on the rise of China as a superpower and its impact on Russia’s relations with the Western world, focusing on how Russia is strengthening its ties with China how it is influencing liberal western values.

Topic 4: CPEC- The rising economy of Pakistan

Research Aim: CPEC is a huge international initiative to enhance infrastructure within Pakistan in order to boost commerce with China and further develop the region’s countries. CPEC contributes to the creation of modern transportation infrastructure in Pakistan and makes the country’s economy more competitive in the international market. This study will examine the impact of CPEC on the development of Pakistan’s economy, also focusing on the role of China and Chinese technology in the industrial sector to revolutionise the industrial sector of Pakistan.

Topic 5: The role of cryptocurrencies on international diplomacy.

Research Aim: Taxation., information regulation, and governance all have the potential to be disrupted with significant implications for international politics. This study will analyse the role of cryptocurrency in international diplomacy. Furthermore, it will also focus on how the widespread of digital currencies have the potential to change the world financial system.

2020 Covid-19 International Relations and Geopolitics Research Topics

Topic 1: international relations and covid-19.

Research Aim: This study will address the geopolitical issues and International relations during COVID-19

Topic 2: COVID-19 is a geopolitical instrument

Research Aim: COVID-19 has disturbed everything from health to the world’s economy, and it has also created tensions among the nations of the world. This study will identify whether Coronavirus is a geopolitical instrument or not.

Topic 3: International relations scholars and COVID-19

Research Aim: This study will reveal the opinions and role of international relations scholars and COVID-19

Topic 4: Meta-geopolitics and COVID-19

Research Aim: This study will focus on the meta-geopolitics during the COVID-19 crisis

Topic 5: The global order post Coronavirus pandemic

Research Aim: This study will predict the global order post coronavirus pandemic, including international relations, geopolitics, and geo-economics after COVID-19.

2021 International Relations and Geopolitics Dissertation Titles

Topic 1. what impact would brexit have on the relations between uk and scotland.

Research Aim: the current topic would address the relationship between the United Kingdom and Scotland after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union. It is assumed to significantly impact the ties present between the two regions, as it is considered that the Scottish part would want to exit.

Topic 2. Pakistan-Afghanistan relations post-Taliban-US peace accord vis-à-vis US withdrawal from Afghanistan

Research Aim: the current topic would aim to analyse the Pakistan- Afghanistan relations, especially the role that Pakistan is playing in the smooth exit of the US from Afghanistan. It will also critically review the impact that the US withdrawal will have in influencing the upcoming US elections of 2020.

Topic 3. Legitimising the Taliban in Afghanistan’s combat is likely to change the peace situation in Afghanistan

Research Aim: This research topic will consider the possibilities that the Taliban’s legalisation into Afghanistan will have within Afghanistan and its surroundings. How will it affect the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan?

Topic 4. Exploring the status of ISIS in Afghanistan post US withdrawal

Research Aim: the current topic would aim to consider the past of ISIS, where it was, the devastation it caused in Syria. It would also analyse the future of ISIS in Afghanistan, especially considering its strong foothold in Afghanistan’s east. It will also put forward the implications of a more robust and growing ISIS presence in the regions and Afghanistan’s international relations with its neighbouring countries.

Topic 5. Possibilities of a domino effect in EU post BREXIT

Research Aim: the current topic aims to study the BREXIT deal. Considering the advantages that Britain thinks it has bagged, how much possibility is Britain creating a domino effect? It will also study the scope of which countries can opt for a BREXIT-like movement and be successful. Most importantly, the research will look into the factors that made the BREXIT deal possible.

Topic 6. The British colonisation of the Indian subcontinent and its after-effects even in the 21st century

Research Aim: The current topic aims to study in-depth the effects that the British colonisation had on the Sub-continent. It will present a detailed analysis of how British East India took over the Indian subcontinent and then gradually went from being traders to rulers. It will explain the after-effects that the British colonisation still has over the minds and culture of the people that now live divided into different countries like Pakistan and India.

Topic 7: Can the issue of Kashmir be the ultimate trigger for India-Pakistan to have a nuclear war? Can the United Kingdom play a key role instead of the US in averting this situation?

Research Aim: The current topic aims to investigate the Kashmir issue and analyze the effect that it is causing on two nuclear holding counties, namely India and Pakistan. Can the recent curfew imposed in Kashmir and revoking their special status trigger a nuclear war between India and Pakistan? Will the UN, and the US, step in as promised to resolve the issue, and will it all be in vain as nuclear war is triggered? Or can the UK play a key role in trying to avert the situation?

Topic 8. Trump’s “vision for peace” and its impact on the European Union and the UK

Research Aim: This research will investigate the scope of the current plan that Trump has put forward to divide Palestine into smaller pieces to resolve the conflict that has been going on for ages. How will this “vision for peace” implicate countries like Jordon, Iran, Egypt, etc.? It will also put forward the impact this plan would have on the rest of the world, especially the Middle East, the greater European Union, and the United Kingdom.

Topic 9. What role is the UK playing in the global warming and increasing energy crisis?

Research Aim: This study will enable the readers to understand that the threat of global warming is real. It is not localised to a specific region, country, or continent. Having said this, the current topic will perform an in-depth analysis of the growing global warming issue and what role the UK is trying to fulfill to curb the problem, raise awareness and promote going green. How big is the UK’s footprint?

Topic 10. Can the African Union be inspired by the BREXIT movement?

Research Aim: the current topic aims to look into the BREXIT movement’s success. The study’s scope will also include possibilities that the BREXIT can inspire the African Union to go their own way. Are there any indicators that this might happen shortly?

Topic 11. Analysis and Implication of US sanctions on Iran

Research Aim: the current topic aims to review the US’s sanctions upon Iran. It will also analyse the implications that the US has to face due to Iranian General Qassim Suleimani. It will explore the possibility that the US has gained the strategic advantage they were looking for or have they angered a sleeping giant. The study will also look into the retaliation strategy of Iran and if it holds any weight. How far will Iran be able to withhold these sanctions before succumbing to US wishes?

Topic 12. Human rights violation in the valley of Kashmir

Research Aim: the current topic aims to study fundamental human rights and the many violations against them in Kashmir. The recent revoking of the Kashmiris’ special status and the curfew imposed by India in the Kashmir valley are all evidence of the many violations of human rights that are happening there. The increasing number of missing persons, kidnapping, sexual and physical abuse are serious human rights violations. Why is the world keeping a shut-eye towards the Kashmiris, and where are the so-called custodians of human rights?

Topic 13. What are the political consequences of the NATO alliance for the UK?

Research Aim: the current topic aims to question the NATO alliance and the political consequences of such an alliance between multiple countries, especially in the UK. NATO might be the biggest known alliance amongst many such countries, and what political and personal gain from the UK’s perspective. The study will address the advantages and disadvantages of being a part of the UK’s NATO alliance.

Topic 14. The effect of terrorist organisations on the international relations of the UK

Research Aim: the current topic aims to explore the effects that a terrorist organisation might have on the UK’s international relations. The example under consideration would be the UK and its dealings with a terrorist plagued country like Pakistan. The study would research how the Taliban of Pakistan adversely affected its international relations and destroyed its image globally while also addressing the remedial steps that Pakistan is taking or has taken to overcome them and refurbish a new image globally. The study will also include how successful they have been in bridging the gap between them and the UK.

Topic 15. Coronavirus and International disease prevention, especially in the UK

Research Aim: this study aims to explore the extent to which Coronavirus has spread starting from China and in a concise amount of time spreading into the different corners of the world. Why was no prevention method applied? The study will implore the need to create better and more effective ways to prevent diseases from spreading across countries. The study’s scope will also include putting forward practices for a more proactive rather than reactive method to disease prevention across nations, especially in the UK. What is the UK doing right to stay and remain safe from the coronavirus?

Topic 16. “Make America Great Again” – an attempt to maintain uni-polarity in the World

Research Aim: the current topic aims to study the central ideology behind the concept of “Make America Great Again.” The world is shifting from uni-polar to multi-polar due to the newly forming alliance between China and Russia. America is trying to preserve its status, but the concern is quite prominent and evident in the slogan of “Make America Great Again”. The study’s scope will include the steps that the US is taking to maintain the status quo. It will also put forth the alliance that Russia and China are forging and the impact that it is having on the US as well as the rest of the world.

Topic 17. The implications of UK-EU and US-China trade wars on developing countries

Research Aim: The current study aims to highlight the impact that the United Kingdom and European Union and the United States and China trade wars have on developing countries’ economies. The study’s scope will include an in-depth analysis of the rising cost of living in such countries, along with the deterioration in the sector of education, health, and GDP per capita. It will also put forward the growing concerns that such developing countries are facing.

Topic 18. The relationship between Canada and the UK

Research Aim: the current topic aims to analyse Canada and the UK’s relationship critically. It is most likely to evolve now that the ex-royal couple is planning to relocate to Canada. How will the terms between Canada and the United Kingdom improve? Will they develop more, or will irreconcilable differences emerge and surface in front of the world.

Topic 19. Prince Harry and Meghan Markel leave the British Crown – How will the monarch be affected?

Research Aim: the current topic aims to study in detail the reasons that might have led to a crowned prince, 7th in line to one of the most powerful thrones in the world have to quit all royal duties and the HRH title. Will Canada accept them? What implications does it have for the taxpayers and the millions of pounds they will save on providing security for the royal couple?

Topic 20. A bright future for more strengthened relationships between the African Union and the European Union

Research Aim: the current topic aims to study in-depth the scope that a strong alliance between the European Union and the African Union will have on eliminating and improving problems in Africa. It will be providing theoretical data supported by facts and statistics. The study’s scope will also examine how developing and investing within Africa will help it overcome the internal and external problems it faces.

How Can ResearchProspect Help?

ResearchProspect writers can send several custom topic ideas to your email address. Once you have chosen a topic that suits your needs and interests, you can order for our dissertation outline service which will include a brief introduction to the topic, research questions , literature review , methodology , expected results , and conclusion . The dissertation outline will enable you to review the quality of our work before placing the order for our full dissertation writing service!

Important Notes:

As a student of international relations and geopolitics looking to get good grades, it is essential to develop new ideas and experiment with existing international relations and geopolitics theories – i.e., to add value and interest in your research topic.

The field of international relations and geopolitics is vast and interrelated to many other academic disciplines like civil engineering ,  construction ,  project management , engineering management , healthcare , finance and accounting , artificial intelligence , tourism , physiotherapy , sociology , management , and project management , graphic design , and nursing . That is why it is imperative to create a project management dissertation topic that is articular, sound, and actually solves a practical problem that may be rampant in the field.

We can’t stress how important it is to develop a logical research topic based on your entire research. There are several significant downfalls to getting your topic wrong; your supervisor may not be interested in working on it, the topic has no academic creditability, the research may not make logical sense, and there is a possibility that the study is not viable.

This impacts your time and efforts in writing your dissertation as you may end up in the cycle of rejection at the initial stage of the dissertation. That is why we recommend reviewing existing research to develop a topic, taking advice from your supervisor, and even asking for help in this particular stage of your dissertation.

While developing a research topic, keeping our advice in mind will allow you to pick one of the best international relations and geopolitics dissertation topics that fulfill your requirement of writing a research paper and add to the body of knowledge.

Therefore, it is recommended that when finalizing your dissertation topic, you read recently published literature to identify gaps in the research that you may help fill.

Remember- dissertation topics need to be unique, solve an identified problem, be logical, and be practically implemented. Please look at some of our sample international relations and geopolitics dissertation topics to get an idea for your own dissertation.

How to Structure your International Relations & Geopolitics Dissertation

A well-structured dissertation can help students to achieve a high overall academic grade.

• A Title Page
• Acknowledgements
• Declaration
• Abstract: A summary of the research completed
• Table of Contents
• Introduction : This chapter includes the project rationale, research background, key research aims and objectives, and the research problems. An outline of the structure of a dissertation can also be added to this chapter.
• Literature Review : This chapter presents relevant theories and frameworks by analysing published and unpublished literature available on the chosen research topic to address research questions . The purpose is to highlight and discuss the selected research area’s relative weaknesses and strengths whilst identifying any research gaps. Break down the topic, and critical terms can positively impact your dissertation and your tutor.
• Methodology : The data collection and analysis methods and techniques employed by the researcher are presented in the Methodology chapter which usually includes research design , research philosophy, research limitations, code of conduct, ethical consideration, data collection methods, and data analysis strategy .
• Findings and Analysis : Findings of the research are analysed in detail under the Findings and Analysis chapter. All key findings/results are outlined in this chapter without interpreting the data or drawing any conclusions. It can be useful to include graphs, charts, and tables in this chapter to identify meaningful trends and relationships.
• Discussion and Conclusion : The researcher presents his interpretation of results in this chapter, and states whether the research hypothesis has been verified or not. An essential aspect of this section of the paper is to draw a linkage between the results and evidence from the literature. Recommendations with regards to implications of the findings and directions for the future may also be provided. Finally, a summary of the overall research, along with final judgments, opinions, and comments, must be included in the form of suggestions for improvement.
• References : This should be completed following your University’s requirements
• Bibliography
• Appendices : Any additional information, diagrams, and graphs used to complete the dissertation but not part of the dissertation should be included in the Appendices chapter. Essentially, the purpose is to expand the information/data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How to find international relations and geopolitics dissertation topics.

For international relations and geopolitics dissertation topics:

• Follow global news and conflicts.
• Study diplomatic relations.
• Explore historical events.
• Analyze regional dynamics.
• Investigate security challenges.
• Select a specific focus that aligns with your expertise and curiosity.

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