The world’s governments, cultures and societies interact with each other in many ways. From transnational crime to humanitarian crises, global development to environmental sustainability, our students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to understand these issues and their connections.
Global affairs scholars draw from fields such as political science, economics, history and anthropology to develop an understanding of the relationships between states, nations and the broader international system. This approach has become especially relevant in the wake of globalization, a process that has transformed the nature of international politics, as well as domestic politics.
International organizations like the United Nations and NATO grew out of the need for newly independent countries to gain recognition, legitimacy and cooperation with established powers. Their establishment influenced global affairs post-decolonization by providing platforms for dialogue and promoting collaboration on pressing global issues.
A term coined by political scientist Ian Bremmer to refer to a supposed shift away from a rules-based world order overseen by one, two or even seven or 20 major powers, towards a disorderly system without any hegemon. Many experts believe that we are in the early stages of this transition, with some fearing the rise of a G2 between the United States and China.
The undergraduate major in Global Affairs is a broad, interdisciplinary major that draws from the expertise of faculty across 13 departments. At the graduate level, a Master of Global Affairs is offered, sponsored by Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. This program requires high standards of scholarship and provides practical training for careers in government, the private sector, and international organizations.
