Studying international relations (IR) can sometimes feel very abstract. IR scholars often look at bureaucratic details like the organization of the United Nations, study theories of nationhood and sovereignty from decades if not centuries ago, or wade through complicated research on climate change or public health. But, right now does not feel like one of those times.
Today, as I recruit excited TA's who are eager to share their experiences studying IR at Tufts with high school students, and as I reserve classroom space for our lectures and discussions, I cannot push out my head the images of missiles exploding in the residential neighborhoods of Ukraine and tanks rolling along highways that look strikingly similar to the route I take to Tufts every day. It’s days like these when I feel a desire to look away from the world’s ugliness and violence to focus on my day-to-day frustrations and pleasures.
In these moments, I take inspiration from the students who have already gone through this program. When the problems of the world seem too big to comprehend, I think about my students’ ability to think both big and small, to never lose sight of the details and how much the personal matters even on a global scale. In lectures, discussions, and simulations, they have a remarkable ability to continue seeking answers and never to turn away from the overwhelming magnitude of the challenges we face. They have a persistent optimism that a solution can and will be reached if we all work hard enough.
Then I’m reminded that I, too, have a role to play. As the director of a pre-college international relations program, I have the opportunity to help guide the next generation of leaders toward engaging in a thoughtful, critical, and empathetic study and, eventually, stewardship of the globe. I’m reminded of the importance of probing all sides of conflicts, of looking carefully at history to better understand the present, and of finding creative solutions to seemingly intractable problems. I get the chance to introduce students to research and analysis conducted by world-class experts, to help guide them through their own process of research and writing, and to empower them to move beyond memorizing facts or conventional wisdom to begin forming arguments of their own.
In moments like these that can make us feel pessimistic about politics and our collective future, I’m reminded how important studying international relations is and how a program like this can have a life-changing—and perhaps, one day, world-changing—impact if given the opportunity.