The Department of International Affairs

The Department of International Affairs offers students either a major or a minor in International Affairs. The minor requires 15 hours, while the major requires 21 hours. In addition, International Affairs offers two master’s degrees (Master of International Policy and a Master of Arts in Political Science and International Affairs) and a PhD in Political Science and International Affairs. We currently have 24 faculty members in the department that specialize in a wide array of topics, including international conflict, human rights, political institutions, extremism, political economy, and the environment. Here is more information about our faculty members, but I cannot state emphatically enough that this department is filled with brilliant, caring, and highly successful scholars of International Affairs.

Choosing Which Course to Take in Intl Affairs

Beyond the requirements, there are four factors to consider when choosing your courses in International Affairs: (1) the level of the course, (2) its subfield, (3) the specific topic(s) covered, and (4) skill(s) acquired.

1. Level of Course

The foundational course for International Affairs is the one you are enrolled in now: INTL 1100 “Introduction to Global Issues.” In addition to meeting UGA’s General Education Requirements, Global Issues provides students with the tools to begin understanding how governments interact with one another (international relations) and the similarities and differences in political systems (comparative politics). The next courses available to students in International Affairs are INTL 3200 Intro to International Relations and INTL 3300 Intro to Comparative Politics. Once these courses have been completed, students will then be ready for a variety of 4000-level courses that focus on a variety of topics and/or regions. The schedule of upcoming course offerings can be accessed here and a complete list of International Affairs courses can be accessed here.

2. Sub-fields

There are two sub-fields in International Affairs: International Relations and Comparative Politics. What's the difference? Imagine you were eavesdropping (no judgment!) on two people having a conversation before class started. If you were examining how they interacted with each (e.g. were they polite, did they shake hands pre-COVID-19, etc.), then you would be focusing on the interaction between actors. Next, imagine you witnessed that these students came from either very similar or quite distinct backgrounds from each other. In learning this, you may be curious about how these similarities or differences impact their view on the world.

In International Affairs, we have two broad sub-fields: International Relations (IR) and Comparative Politics (CP). International Relations is analogous to the scholar examining the interaction between actors, while comparative politics would attempt to compare and contrast different actors. Returning to the foundational assumptions posited above, International Relations scholars assume that countries have historically followed patterns of interaction (e.g. when they go to war and when they do not). By examining these patterns, IR scholars attempt to predict future interactions, mostly between or among countries (i.e. states). While International Relations scholars focus on patterns of interactions among states, Comparative Politics scholars attempt to determine patterns of causes that best explain why certain actors act the way they do in comparison to other actors.

Maybe you have anticipated that, though this is a strong division within academia, the world does not divide itself so easily into these categories. After all, one could imagine a scenario in which two students interact in a certain way because of either their similarities or their differences. That said, our discipline studies every country in the world (!) and can cover any topic of importance to the functioning of the world (e.g. war, water, food, sex, race, religion). It is difficult to focus both across all states AND understand what is occurring within each state. As a result, we have specialized people who are able to do one or the other quite well.

3. Course Topics

As our department focuses on global politics, there are dozens and dozens of topics that can fit within International Affairs. Courses within the IR sub-field tend to focus broadly on either conflict among states (e.g. INTL 4220 International Conflicts, INTL 4455 Violent Political Conflicts, INTL 4280 Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict, INTL 4285 Crisis Diplomacy, INTL 4295 War and Human Security, and INTL 4475 War and Gender) or cooperation among states (e.g. INTL 4210 International Law, INTL 4230 International Political Economy, INTL 4240 International Organizations, and INTL 4620 Human Rights).

There are also courses that may provide for a hybrid between an American government focus and International Relations by examining how the United States interacts within the world. Such courses include INTL 4250 American Foreign Policy, INTL 4430 U.S. National Security Policy, and INTL 4440 Strategic Intelligence.

Course topics within Comparative Politics tend to focus either on an issue (comparing how different actors respond to this issue) or a region of the world (examining the similarities or differences of states that share common geopolitical traits). Examples of CP courses that focus on issue-areas would include INTL 4300 Comparative Political Institutions, 4305 Comparative Public Opinion and Participation, INTL 4316 Democratic Erosion, INTL 4318 Electioneering Around the World, INTL 4320 The Politics of Development, and INTL 4610 Environmental Politics. Comparative Politics courses that focus on certain regions include INTL 4370 Middle Eastern Politics, INTL(LACS) 4380 Latin American Politics, INTL(AFST) 4355, and INTL 4360 East Asian Politics.

A note: International Affairs is not for everyone. I have neighbors who teach Mathematics. I am jealous of their syllabus preparation time before each semester, as Math just does not change as rapidly as world politics does. By the next semester, some of my examples of information need to be updated, if not replaced completely. This is also why I love our discipline. The theories and content are evolving rapidly based on each new political leader, political movements, seismic shifts in power, etc.

4. Skills Acquired

Scientifically-Based Inquiry: We may all have times where we reflect on a world in which we want to live. That said, IA works to examine, explain, and predict outcomes in the world in which we live. This does not mean we do not have hope that things could change. But examining the world we want to see would be like looking at a horse and describing it as a unicorn. We would be objectively wrong.

Instead, we use processes for an investigation similar to those you have learned in any research courses you have taken: (1) observe, (2) ask questions, (3) determine previous answers to this question, (4) posit any possible answers to be tested, (5) test these answers, (5) determine if these answers may be supported or must be rejected, and (6) repeat this process again and again and again. To support and develop research skills, our department offers INTL 4000 Research Design and Quantitative Analysis in International Affairs.

Analysis of Both Historical & Current Events: That said, we are not simply an ahistorical discipline. We do not just focus on the present without any concern for the historical context. The biggest criticism of our discipline has been that we gather lots of data without understanding it. This is why professors within our department and beyond will examine past histories in classes to assess patterns of behavior being repeated or maybe even changed over time.

Written & Oral Argumentation: International Affairs is a fast-paced, analytical discipline with ample opportunities for students to begin learning about and analyzing political patterns of behavior. Most of the courses in International Affairs allow for written argumentation (e.g. create policy recommendations). Some courses where oral argumentation will be a main focus include two courses that I teach: INTL 4210 Introduction to International Law and INTL 4710 United Nations Practicum.

There are two ways to look at any major: (1) what skills will I develop, and (2) what content will I learn?

As for content, International Affairs offers it all. After all, the world is our focus. You can specialize in certain regions of the world (this tends to be done by Comparativist seeking to understand whether or not neighbors share something in common). You can also focus on a specific issue area and then compare this more broadly (e.g. healthcare, education, the rise of right-wing political parties, etc.). If you choose an issue area, you can either examine it comparatively (why does this state have a large right-wing political party and this one does not?) or you can examine the interaction across states (e.g. how does the right-wing party in that state interact with others elsewhere?). The real trouble is trying to decide what not to study in International Affairs. As one example, in my International Law class, we even cover how states *try* to regulate outer space exploration. In terms of content to study, there are no limits to our curiosity.

In terms of skills, an International Affairs major offers a wide variety of skills. You will necessarily cull through vast amounts of information about the world: theories, names, dates, people, etc. To do so effectively, you must become adept at thinking critically (i.e. what matters and what doesn't from what I am reading?). Moreover, you must be working through material for the purpose of analyzing the past and/or predicting the future. To do so, you must data and use it in a manner that shapes an argument. This is much, much harder than it sounds. Finally, you must not let the popularity of one conclusion sway you from the one that is supported by the data. This last component requires a strong sense of purpose. If you are interested in doing these things, here are some ideal jobs for you upon graduation:

Government

More than likely, our students will be interested in working for the federal government.

Executive Branch: Not all of the federal government is ideal for International Affairs. The outward-facing cabinets and agencies include the Department of State, the Department of Defense, and the Intelligence Community (e.g. CIA, FBI, NSA, etc.). There are also outward-facing positions within other Cabinets and Agencies (e.g. the Department of Energy must consider how we interact with oil and natural gas imports and exports).

Legislative Branch: Some of our students choose to intern with a federal legislator on the Hill and love the fast-paced sausage-making environment of politics. If you are interested in a career here, the early career options would be to work on a campaign and/or in a legislator's office, specializing in issues related to foreign affairs. To have the most impact, choose a legislator who is a member of an internationally-focused committee (e.g. Foreign Relations).

State & Local Government: Some students also enjoy working in state and local governments in issue areas that deal with international issues, like trade. As just one example, the Atlanta mayor's office has its own Office of International Affairs (here).

International Organizations: Finally, some people may wish to work for international organizations (organizations that are comprised of states). Such examples include the United Nations, the World Bank, etc. These are amazing opportunities to see a policy being implemented globally and representing all the states within this organization, rather than just the United States.

Academia

If a student spends their years at UGA asking the big questions about how the world works and wants nothing more than to research these questions and a million more with data-driven scientific methods, then I tend to recommend academia. Years ago, I, myself, was torn between keeping my corporate management job in Japan or going for the PhD. To this day, I can best explain my choice by stating that I wanted the freedom to objectively explore big questions. My experience taught me that in the corporate world, conclusions are always predetermined by what benefits the corporation. We constantly attempted to convince clients they needed our services, when, in fact, they really didn't. This is distinct from what I described above: following the truth wherever it may lead. I'm not exactly skilled in pursuasion when I, myself, am not pursuaded. The corporate world was not not for me.

I should note that academia is incredibly competitive in its hiring, and moreso by the year. Institutions are tending to hire fewer full-time professors and offering tenure (i.e. a status that makes your job security much, much greater) less. There is also relatively little money in this path compared to others (e.g. law). What I will say for my personal choice, is that being able to ask the big questions, having autonomy of my schedule (e.g. on campus when I need to be, rather than clocking in each day), and witnessing students widening their perspective of how the world works over their time at the University makes me know I am working in my dream job.

Policy-Shaping Positions

This is a broad category that includes two types of entities - think tanks and lobbying firms. In an ideal world, these entities could be viewed on a spectrum from highly objective (i.e. thinktanks) to highly subjective (i.e. lobbying firms). From such a perspective, lobbying firms are attempting to shape policy toward a given objective, while think tanks offer more open-ended policy proposals based on in-house research. As an example, a lobbying form might advocate the banning of all chemical runoffs into rivers, while a think tank might study the relative effects of certain chemicals on others on river ecosystems.

The reason they are included in the same category is that, over time, the lines between these entities have been blurred (some think tanks have an advocacy agenda and some lobbying firms conduct scientific research). Thus it requires you to do diligent research to determine whether an organization for which you wish to work prizes objectivity. Sometimes a lobbying firm may offer objective policy recommendations (supported in data) and sometimes they may not. Moreover, sometimes think thanks may offer subjective and thus data and analysis when they are not supposed to do so.

Think tanks are great because they are for many the halfway point from the ivory tower of academia and the rat race of the political arena. Simply put, they are a chance to impact policies without getting in the mud. Some that I rely on for information are the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). That said, there are hundreds.

Private Sector

A fourth and final category is a bit of a catch-all. One could go to law school. Alternatively, one could work for a business that needs an expert in international relations (e.g. many corporations are interested in state regulations or committed to enacting some global social responsibility agenda). Finally, some people could work for non-governmental organizations (e.g. Greenpeace, Doctor's Without Borders, etc.) promoting a transnational agenda.

So often, students ask me about whether a certain internship, study abroad, or post-undergraduate opportunity might be rewarding for them, and I respond with the undoubtedly frustrating answer, "It depends." There are perfect positions, and then there are perfect positions for each student. I am uninterested in creating an assembly line of "successful" students, for which success means ticking off certain boxes but not experiencing things that are eye-opening, meaningful, and perhaps even world-changing.

Instead, I am interested in each of my students reflecting on their interests, values, and capacities and then daydreaming about how they can best use these in the world. And, what makes this approach great, is rather than trying to be great at something that you may not truly want to do, you can focus your energy on being great at something because you truly want to do it. The underlying logic is that your passion and excitement will make you work hard to do a better job.

So, isn't this life planning? No, not yet. We can plan the next steps after we first determine where you want to go. Ready to get started? OK, then. I believe all great paths have some combination (I would start with 1/3 of each) of these three things:

Step #1: Recognize Strengths

What are your strengths? Everyone can look back at the chapters of their life and see some common traits others see in you or you identify in yourself. These are the things you do well and relatively easily. What are they? Write them down.

Step #2: Define Your Areas for Improvement (i.e. Weaknesses)

Everyone, I hope, has a list of things they would like to learn, work on, get down as habits, etc. Learning is a life-long process and people who are content often understand (and even excited by the prospect) that there is still much to be learned. Please write these here. NOTE: Remember this is an exercise in understanding where you wish to be going, so please exclude any requirements of others. For example, an area of improvement should read less, "I'd like people to be less annoying," and more like "I would like to be more patient with others."

Step #3: Be Clear About What You Value Most

I also call this the one-day-left question. If you had one day left to live, where would you put your energy? What do you value most in this world? How can you maximize putting your effort into these things?

Step #4: The Oil Painting

Ok, now for the full picture. Reflect on these three areas for a while. Imagine yourself using your strengths, either in your personal life, your professional life, or both. Now, imagine yourself bravely and passionately working hard to improve in certain areas of your life (again you can alternate between personal or professional or both). Now imagine yourself putting effort into the things you value most. See it? What do you see? Draw it, write it down, imagine it. Just try to find your oil painting. For some, it may not be a complete picture. That's fine! What you do see is a good indication of where you want to go next. If you need guidance or someone to share this with, book office hours with me here!

For this Module, I would like for you to consider one experience for which you would like to apply. It could be a dream job, an internship, a graduate program. It need not be something within reach right now. This is an exercise in daydreaming and then making ONE concrete step toward realizing this dream. As one example, one of my dream goals is to produce research on starvation as a tool of war (e.g., denying food to civilians in war) that gets used before the International Criminal Court to hold leaders accountable for starving civilians in war. So, for this exercise, I would consider crafting a personal statement addressed to the Director of Investigations Division of the International Criminal Court that includes my desire to work with them and my qualifications for doing so. This can be presented in the form of a letter (this would be known as a cover letter) with your resume. If you are asked to submit a cover letter for an application, here is a template to get you started. If this same information is presented as an essay (usually when applying to scholarships, fellowships, and/or graduate school), then this is called a personal statement. Other than formatting, these two really look quite similar.

Most generally, when you are writing a personal statement (i.e., cover letter), your job is to imagine an ideal candidate for the position you want and then explain in this statement (letter) how you are that ideal candidate. Here you must really envision how your combination of unique qualities and experiences make you the ideal candidate for this role. if you need help, ask friends to help you. So, in my example, I am interested in serving as a member of the Office of the Director of Investigations Division of the International Criminal Court. Specifically, I would like to present evidence on starvation as a tool of war to be used to issue arrest warrants for those accused of committing such crimes.

Introductory Paragraph

From there, the personal statement should read a little like a five-paragraph essay. The introductory paragraph should (1) Identify the position for which are applying, and (2) provide a compelling explanation for why you are an ideal applicant for the program. Usually, the introductory paragraph will include characteristics that you will then elaborate upon in subsequent paragraphs.

Body Paragraphs

The subsequent paragraphs should then go into detail about (1) characteristics that you hold that are ideal for the position, (2) specific concrete examples of ways in which these characteristics have led to previous successes, and (3) ways in which you would use these characteristics in the position for which you are applying. As one example, if I were to claim in a paragraph that I was a scholar of international public law, I would mention my publications on this topic area to support this claim. Though you can include as many characteristics as possible, I tend to provide one paragraph that focuses on each and includes at least three characteristics. So again, for my position at the ICC, I would explain that I am a scholar of international public law, that I have created a database on evidence of starvation as a tool of war, and that I have knowledge of the politics of food in domestic and international law. Each of these would be explored fully in their own paragraphs and have some concrete examples of successes I have had around these characteristics.

Concluding Paragraph

Similar to other concluding paragraphs, this is a strong chance to restate your desire for the position and your confidence that these characteristics have prepared you as an ideal candidate.