International politics deals with the behavior of state and non-state actors on the world stage. It explains why and how states, in the face of changing economic, technological and environmental realities, cooperate and compete with one another. It also addresses the ways in which these issues intersect with domestic political and social affairs. The study of international politics draws on a broad range of disciplines including history, economics, sociology, anthropology, law, geography and psychology, as well as political science.
The fundamental issue is power and the exercise of power in international relations. Even in the most effective international organizations, the will of individual states still dominates the decision-making process. While there are a number of international policy problems that have arisen because of the rise of technology and the pace of scientific discovery, the dominant problem is the relative strength of different states.
Whether it is the relative wealth of some over others or the threat that comes from rapid scientific and technological change, the result is that the modern state system has developed into a pattern of conflict. This is reflected in the fact that many scholars and policy makers now believe that global issues are destined to become as important for world affairs as local ones have been in the past. As such, the study of international politics is a vital area for future research.