The field of international relations typically examines the interaction and policymaking behaviors of nation-states with each other and with international organizations. The field of global affairs broadens the scope of this field of study to include not only interactions between nation-states, but also multilateral organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank, as well as non-governmental actors, including for example corporations, NGOs, religious-based organizations, and social movements.
Global affairs is a fundamentally interdisciplinary field because problems such as poverty, hunger, and war are multidimensional and not confined by national or disciplinary boundaries. At the Keough School of Global Affairs, we believe that solving these problems will require expertise from every sector of society, including those closest to the problem and most affected by it.