International Studies as a Field of Study

Increasing glocalisation of our world and interconnection of people of different climes have thrown up more issues in the global scene than ever before. These issues include those of refugees, xenophobia, climate change, and cross-border terrorism, migration of labour, light weapon proliferation and rapid spread of diseases from one part of the world to another. These emerging global issues have no doubt reinforced scholarship in International Studies (IS) which looks at societal problems from global perspective and also analyses the way in which relations among nations influence these issues together with impact of international organisations. The academic discipline dedicated to this was diplomatic history which in a way metamorphosed to International Relations. International Studies (IS), in recent times has become increasingly popular with various institutions offering it either as a stand-alone course or as one of two or more in a department. The field of study has grown significantly over the past century, developing into an interdisciplinary discipline that addresses complex global issues. However, it faces various challenges which include lack of consensus on its theoretical foundations; and fragmentation with scholars and practitioners grappling to define its core identity, scope and methodologies. This study attempts to examine the historical development, theoretical underpinnings, and future trajectories of IS to establish its relevance and adaptability in addressing the pressing needs of the 21st century. The paper is significant to the ongoing dialogue about IS as a cohesive and impactful field of study.