The contemporary world is the study of a world in transition, approaches to the study differ immensely. Much depends on orientation, training and interests of those who teach and write in the field. History and political science are the disciplines from which international relations has emerged. Approaches natural to those tow older disciplines are still in use. In introductory courses, the necessary historical background is highlighted. Generally, in Britain or countries influenced by British education, introductory courses in international relations are usually courses in history of recent international affairs. In USA, analytical approach is preferred. In European universities, approach to
the study of international relations is heavily legalistic, theoretical, emphasizing institutional legal norms, jurisprudence and history.
The student of international relations should pursue his study with sense, appraise its unit action and possibilities, its goals and objectives. He is endlessly conversed with emotions, personalities, renditions materials and other intangible and changing factors. He is made an engineer or a scientist with laws of physical world. He must never regard himself as a mere observer or as one who finds the unfolding story of politics among nations interesting but without profit as a means to help men shape their future. He must not be discouraged because of those who attack international relations for its inability to find effective means of preventing tension and conflict among nations or that has not predicated the course of events accurately. There must be predicated the course of events accurately. There must be serious attention to the problems of world security, welfare and the survival of out lives.
The crisis of the modern age has persisted and it is like we are living in the period of great transition of human history. E.H Carr opined that the real international crisis of our times seems to be the final and irrevocable breakdown of the conditions which made the 19th century world order possible. The foundation of our world is shaky, new political alignment and relations are fast emerging. Today, international relations is characterized by a high degree of interaction and interdependence.
International relations since world war ii has been the search for a new international order to replace the old order that was destroyed in two world wars and to formulate a new pattern of relationship in a world dominated by two super powers, divested between the capitalist and communist and between the have and have-not nations; and altered by the emergence on many new nations.
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