Differences between International Relations and Global Studies

Eurocentrism and Global North Bias

International Relations has long been critiqued for its Eurocentric and Global North focus: its theories and frameworks were primarily developed by Western scholars, often overlooking perspectives from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

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Scope and Disciplinary Focus

• Global Studies: Merges political science, economics, history, anthropology, sociology, and cultural studies to examine global issues from multiple vantage points.
• International Relations: Rooted in political science, concentrating on state-to-state relations, diplomacy, international law, and security.

Analytical Orientation

• Global Studies: Adopts a holistic lens, exploring transnational processes such as migration, global health, culture, environment, and human rights.
• International Relations: Zeroes in on power dynamics, diplomatic strategy, conflict resolution, and the motivations of nation-states.

Methodological Approaches

• Global Studies: Emphasizes interdisciplinary and critical methods, including qualitative case studies, ethnography, and cross-cultural analysis.
• International Relations: Often applies formal theories, quantitative modeling, and structured case-study frameworks typical of political science.

Career Pathways

• Global Studies: Graduates enter NGOs, international development agencies, global companies, human rights organizations, or pursue academia and research.
• International Relations: Graduates often work in foreign service, diplomacy, intelligence analysis, policy think tanks, or global consultancy roles.

Additional Insights

Beyond these formal distinctions, the rise of Global Studies reflects broader shifts in academia: the push to decolonize curricula, integrate Global South scholarship, and address interconnected challenges that transcend traditional state-centric boundaries.

Exploring both fields can equip you with distinct analytical tools—one broad and critical, the other focused and strategic—so your choice hinges on whether you prefer a panoramic or narrowly political view of world affairs.