Historical Developments and the Importance of Studying IR

International Relations is an academic disciplinary which explains how social issues happen in the world, not only about international politics, but also international law, economy and communication. International Relations become an important subject because international phenomena that take place in our daily lives always impact on us, even though each country still has a big part. This will eventually influence us, in every aspect, with or without our consent. International Relations is developed because a country can not stand on its own, cooperation between countries is needed to support one’s necessity. As a new era approaches, globalization expands, diplomatic relations between countries extends, and problems regarding international issues grow to be more intricate.
Basically, International Relations is a subject about how war and peace occur. However, this subject has its own characteristic which is contemporary and dynamic. This means International Relations is able to adjust anytime, hence its continuity to keep developing and expanding the issues discussed, i.e. not only about war and peace, but also environment, and many other global issues. Environmental, human rights, international economical issues has turned out to be problems talked about in International Relations nowadays. Another academic disciplinary which contributes towards the development of International Relations are International Law, Diplomatic History, Military Science (The Art of War), International Politics, International Organization, International Trade, Colonial Government, and the practice of International Relations itself.
The history of International Relations is often interpreted as the start of the peace of Westphalia in 1648, when modern country system was applied. Prior to this, national socialist politics organizations in Europe are based on vague hierarchy dominance. The study of International Relations that time was developed with the aim to prevent wars after the Westphalia treaty. Westphalia created a legal concept about the recognition of The Dutch Republic independence. This indicates official authority of a country that is government granted internally in one territory. The words International Relations were first suggested in The United States of America in 1919, whereas in England it was known as International Politics.
Graduate Institute of International Studies (now well-known as Institute of International and Development Studies) is the first university that initially built only for International Relations subject. It was built in 1927 with the aim of producing diplomats who were going to represent Indonesia in Genewa. Graduate Institute of International Studies was the first university to ever offer the first Ph.D. degree for International Relations. Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service in Georgetown University is the oldest International Relations department in the United States of America. It was built in 1919. Committee on International Relations in Chicago University was the first institution to offer an undergraduate degree for this subject in 1928.
International Relations keep developing until now. Therefore, International Relations studies have enormous part in relations between countries and globalization expansion. It is inevitable that international relations will always be a part of our lives whether it is through media or in reality itself. International Relations are dynamic. Hence, its characteristic of having to adjust anytime.