International Relations Definition

One can better define International Relations if one clarifies in which aspect it is required
to be defined. International Relations is beyond a comprehensive definition because of its
multidimensional approaches. Scholars however devised their own kinds of definitions
depicting the sense in which they take IR. As Palmer and Perkins used these words to
define IR;

"International Relations is the objective and systematic study of

international life in all its aspects."

This is a relatively general definition yet beyond the width of International Relations as
a discipline.

Central Point of all Efforts made to define International Relations

In nearly all definitions proposed for International Relations, scholars share one point in
common that works as the central idea behind this discipline. That idea is of 'nation states'
and the relationships between them.

IR in its very first sense name of the relationships between the nation states of the world.
The internationality is subject matter of the discipline. Modern nation state system
evolved from the Peace of Westphalia Treaty signed in 1648. Today, in the complex
structure of world states working on varying ideologies, International Relations helps to
study them in a unanimity of thought.