World Politics, also called world economics, refers to both the economic field and the political field which study the economic and political patterns of the world. The core of this field are the many processes of global political globalization with reference to issues of global social power. In political terms, the study of world politics is defined by the inter-connectedness of the diverse political systems of different countries and regions of the world, their interaction, and their historical development. It also involves a study of the international order and its ongoing struggle between socialism and capitalism. This article presents an introduction to the complex subject of world politics.
Introduction to World Politics is a vast field, with a variety of topics and sub-fields, which have been developed over time. The most commonly used term in this field is “world” since it covers a wide range of topics on political science, including international relations, world economy, and political systems of different countries. International relations deals with disputes between states or between groups of states, and is intimately connected with world politics. World economics is intimately connected with world politics since it involves the allocation of resources both within and outside the borders of a country. Political science covers aspects of decision making in national government and in international organizations such as the United Nations or World Trade Organization.
Comparative Politics Moving beyond the global analysis of world politics, we come to a more local view of world politics by examining national politics in its various dimensions. Unlike global economics and world economics, comparative political science has limited inter-linkage with global affairs. Instead, comparative political science uses national level data to explore national political processes, institutions, and actors. Finally, a moving wall is an imaginary structure of socio-economic indicators such as income and wealth distribution, poverty and health outcomes, and political participation and policy preferences that are used to identify the composition of a polity. Moving walls can also be conceptualized as political space; they represent political boundaries and the way in which power is distributed over time.
The United Nations and World Trade Organization represent global institutions with global reach. Political institutions and actors in the domestic context may have different goals, but there are some elements common to all attempts to bring about change at the national level. These include economic globalization, liberalization, privatization, and greater political freedoms. All these changes have reduced barriers to trade and travel, increased competitiveness, made access to resources easier, and enhanced responsiveness at the national level. All these features are associated with political economy, which in turn are interlinked with international relations and World Politics.
International Relations World Politics is a subject that requires a keen interest in all aspects of world politics. A focus on world politics majors prepares students for careers as foreign policy makers, diplomacy officers, and advocates for human rights and democracy. It requires students to develop a comprehensive understanding of how the internal conflicts, including the differences between national and international organizations, shape the course of world politics. It requires students to develop both a personal perspective on world politics and an analytical one to understand and evaluate policy proposals from both sides of the international political divide.
Global Politics and International Studies World Politics require a strong knowledge of global politics and the ways in which international politics are intertwined with domestic social, cultural, and political processes. Studying world politics majors create awareness of the historical origins of modern international relations, including European history, American history, and post-World War II world politics. Students studying international studies also develop their critical thinking skills that serve them well into their professional lives. In addition, they develop an appreciation of and heightened awareness of the relationships among various groups in society including women, farmers, labor, religious leaders, international academics and government officials.