International relations or international affairs may have a perspective that fits a specific institution's goals or the unique expertise of its faculty. This major introduces a variety of theoretical approaches to international politics and economics. The primary objective of the field is to develop an understanding of international affairs and economics, issues and dilemmas facing countries, foreign policy instruments, and processes by which countries make policy decisions to reconcile disparate and incompatible goals. For example, political scientists compare the merits of various forms of government, and a government major analyzes large amounts of data on the federal budget. So a continuous need exists for critical thinking to make decisions based on new facts and figures.
Communication skills are essential, as is the ability to speak authoritatively.
Those who work in these fields are people-oriented. Their interests, however, are more focused on leading and influencing others than on humanitarian concerns. These workers appreciate and understand the value of bureaucracy and organization. While they have good interpersonal skills, they realize that results will come from group activities that involve convincing, negotiating, and compromising. Political science, government, and international relations offer a context for intellectual pursuit in which the scientific method of analysis and inquiry plays a major role.