Difference between International

Relations and International

Politics:
International Relations encompasses a broad area in that it examines the entire
international system. Think of International Politics, then, as a component within that
broad spectrum. Therefore, it is a much narrower subject area. The term International
Politics is used synonymously with the terms ‘world politics’ or ‘global politics’. The
definitions for each of these terms are often not helpful and tend to confuse a person even
more.
International Politics deals with the practical realities of a state’s interaction with another
state or several other states. On the academic front, it entails utilising the theories of
International Relations and applying them analytically to the contemporary issues in the
international system. Thus, issues in the international system also play a large role in
International Politics. More importantly, the concept of power is key to understanding
International Politics. Students of International Politics are well aware that power can be
both a means and an end. Furthermore, power can be either hard power or soft power.
Hard power means military and economic power while soft power is more indirect such as
cultural power. International Politics essentially studies how and why states use these types
of power to achieve their goals.
Some differences we find, here:
 International Relations encompasses a broad spectrum of the international arena while
International Politics is only a component of International Relations and, therefore,
much narrower.
 International Relations concerns the relations or foreign affairs of nations. International
Politics deals only with the political relations of states and focuses on how states
collectively respond to the emerging global issues.
 International Relations is the branch in which we shed lights on relations among states.
Those relations between nations could be political relations, economic relations, cultural
relations, military-technical cooperation, and more. Thus, IR includes every aspect of
relations between states.
Whereas International Politics which also refers as Global Politics is just one of the aspect
we discuss in IR.. it deals with the practical approach of a nations interaction with
another by using the theories of IR and applying them in the international system.
 International Politics is a subset, at best, of International Relations. Just as your political
relations with others in your town might deal primarily with political issues and partisan
elections, but you must also deal with people in a great many other ways. You may
interact with others in a church, for example, where, hopefully, politics is not present.
You surely have to interact with others every day in the course of normal business. If you
think shopping at a supermarket is a political experience, you might be unusual. So
International Politics deals realistically with political relations and alliances with other
nations. Intentional Relations are far broader, and nations which disagree on political
matters must still deal with each other on matters of trade and economics, among many
other issues.