International Relations

Awareness & Understanding

You probably hear about countries dealing with each other on the news all the time — trade deals, diplomatic meetings, conflicts, alliances. But what does it actually mean for countries to have "relations"? Start by watching Crash Course World History on YouTube, especially episodes on empires, colonialism, and the World Wars. Then browse CFR.org (Council on Foreign Relations) and read two or three explainers on current events. Check out r/worldnews and r/geopolitics on Reddit to see how real people debate global stories. Notice what kinds of issues countries argue or cooperate about — trade, borders, resources, human rights. You're ready for the next step when you can name three ways countries interact with each other and give a real example of each.

Research & Investigation

Now dig deeper into how international relations works as a system. Read the Wikipedia articles on "Sovereignty," "International law," and "United Nations" to build a foundation. Then visit un.org and explore what the Security Council and General Assembly actually do. Look for Utah's connections — Salt Lake City hosts consulates and the state's largest companies like Pluralsight and Domo operate globally. Search "international relations theories" and compare realism, liberalism, and constructivism — these are the main lenses scholars use to explain why countries behave the way they do. Khan Academy also has free political science content. You're ready for the next step when you can explain two different theories of international relations in your own words.

Planning & Preparation

Pick one international issue that genuinely interests you — climate agreements, refugee policy, nuclear treaties, or trade disputes — and plan a deeper investigation. Use Google Scholar (scholar.google.com) to find free academic articles on your topic. Read expert analysis at ForeignAffairs.com or the Brookings Institution (brookings.edu). Map out the key countries involved, what each one wants, and why they disagree or cooperate. Write a one-page brief summarizing the issue: who are the players, what's at stake, and what solutions have been tried. The U.S. State Department website (state.gov) publishes detailed country reports you can use as primary sources. You're ready for the next step when you have a completed one-page issue brief you could explain to a friend.

Taking Action

Put your knowledge into action by engaging with real international issues in your community. Attend a lecture or panel at the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics (hinckley.utah.edu) — they regularly host foreign policy experts and international guests, and most events are free. Write a letter or email to one of Utah's U.S. Senators or Representatives about your chosen issue using senate.gov or house.gov. Or connect with a refugee family through the International Rescue Committee's Salt Lake City office (rescue.org/united-states/salt-lake-city-ut) and learn about their home country firsthand. Document what you do and what you discover. You're ready for the next step when you have taken one concrete action and written a paragraph reflecting on what you learned.

Leadership & Expansion

Now lead others into understanding international relations. Organize a "world issues" discussion at your school, library, or community center — bring your issue brief and facilitate the conversation. Use the free Model UN resources at unausa.org to run a mini simulation where participants represent different countries. Or start a blog or social media account where you post weekly explainers on international news; explaining it to others forces you to understand it more deeply. Reach out to a professor at the University of Utah's Political Science department — many will do a short email Q&A with motivated students. You're ready for the next step when you have shared your knowledge with at least five other people in an organized, intentional way.

Impact & Reflection

Look back at what you've learned and measure your real growth. Write a reflection comparing what you thought about international relations at the start versus what you understand now. What surprised you most? Where did your assumptions get challenged? Create a final project — a presentation, essay, short video, or infographic — that teaches your core findings about your chosen issue. Share it somewhere real: submit it to your school paper, post it online, or present it at a local library program. Save your work and reflection in a portfolio you can use when applying for internships, scholarships, or college programs in political science or global affairs. You're ready for the next step when you have a finished project and a written reflection you're proud to share.