Stockholm university

International Relations

The subject provides in-depth knowledge of how the international system has grown and works today. Globalization has been influenced by political and economic relations in the world.

Subject description

International Relations at Stockholm University is organized into three sub-disciplines, around which our education and research is focused: international security, international institutions, and international political economy. All are concerned with the power, order, and organization of global cross-border relations.

The study of international security focuses on historical, social and political dynamics around the pursuit of peace and stability. This includes the study of traditional and ‘new’ forms of security threat, as well as inquiry into the meaning of security and how it is framed.

Examining international institutions includes the study of global governance dynamics, such as the structure, causes, and consequences of today's complex web of international institutions. In focus here are both formal and informal institutions, and a variety of transboundary partnerships.

The study of international political economy covers the distribution of economic and financial resources through the international system. It includes our research on borderless challenges, resource flows, international economic and monetary institutions, systemic reform, and the critical evaluation of the global political economy.

Cutting across all sub-disciplines are central teaching and research themes, on some of the most important questions of our time. These include globalization’s effects, human development, structural inequalities, war and conflict, global risks and crises, resource depletion, and climate change. The department’s IR researchers are highly engaged in national and international networks, major collaborative research projects, professional organizations, and international publishing outlets.

Career opportunities

The subject is well suited for those who in the future want to work with international issues: journalism, government agencies, intergovernmental organizations - IGOs (UN agencies, humanitarian organizations, environmental organizations, energy organizations, finance, trade and customs organizations, regional organizations), as well as in the aid agencies, non-governmental organizations such as NGOs and multinational companies.

The subject can also be combined with other areas such as global development, human geography, economic history, political science, business economics etc.

Courses and programmes

Degree

For a bachelor’s degree in International Relations you can choose to study individual courses or join one of the bachelor’s programmes listed under Educations within the subject.

More information about degrees at Stockholm University

Research

Research in international relations at the department is dynamic, open and interdisciplinary. We focus on a variety of topics such as development, Eastern European and Russian politics, global political economy, security and crisis management and sustainable development.

Our rapidly expanding research environment has the ambition to create conditions for research that both encompasses broad areas and more specialized studies.