This blog was born out of frustration. Having been in school for four years then start tarmacking with your IR degree that's when you realize you have been living in your own bubble the past four years. i want to believe that IR is a fairly new field in our education system and that is why almost everyone tends to ask what that is. I have been walking up and down in such of internships so that i could finally realize my dreams as an undergraduate but this is when my tiny bubble was burst. what is more shocking is that even some government institutions do not seem to understand what this degree entails or what exactly it means to be an IR degree holder. so i have made it my objective to educate the public on one of the most important fields in Kenya that has basically been taken for granted and this when you will realize that what you learn in school is quite important whether you pursue it as a career or not.
So what exactly is IR and what does it entail? Well IR in full is International Relations and no its is not the same as PR (Public relations) neither is it international relationships. It is just that International Relations. This field basically deals with the relations between states and how states relate in the international system. As a Kenyan citizen, we might be so closed to concentrate on the internal politics of the country and tend to ignore the influences of other countries in a country's political, economical and social scene. Sometime without knowing it, we find ourselves very ready to condemn the government without paying attention to the dynamics that lead to the decisions made by the government. More to that due to our ignorance and the judgmental attitude we have adapted in Kenya, we seem to loose out on the understanding of some of the basics that govern the country and are easily lured by the media and the parliament who in most cases are more than happy to influence our mindsets but whether you like it or not, education in whatever degree helps one to have a mindset of their own and have a higher order thinking so that whether you get a job or decide to start your own business, it is this thinking that will influence your decisions and the experiences gained in school will help fashion your future.
Anyway i digress. as i was saying IR basically deals with a state and how it relates with other states. Many states are in competition to have the influence over other countries whether militarily or economically so please do not be so naive as to believe that there's a country that will help your country out of its goodness to humanity or wants to see your country prosper. IR 101,
Realism at its basic explanations seeks to
demonstrate that states in the world arena are driven by their selfish ambitions.
As such, realists describe states as being rational and will thus make decision
that would benefit or progress their national interests. States will struggle
to maintain the status quo in the international system and as a result the
international system has been characterized with power struggles among states
all trying to outdo the other militarily, economically and even socially
(Rourke, 2009). So my fellow Kenyans be very skeptical about what the media feeds you. The States is not fighting for your rights neither is China making roads solely for your benefits but to find out more on China's interest in Kenya and Africa be patient i will still fill you in on subsequent blogs.
Last but not least International relations entails three major fields: diplomacy that basically deals with envoys or representatives to foreign countries to propagate a states interest in the host country. These are the individuals who drive red plated cars around town and live luxurious lives in your country. Don't be so bitter at the end of the day it is for your countries benefit because they have diplomatic immunity and they need to be treated like important guests.The other field is conflict resolution; this involves mediation, negotiations and even military intervention to bring peace to a conflict zone again not only for the benefit of the conflicting state but also for the mediator's state. Case in point Kenya's involvement in conflict resolution in the Sudan-South Sudan case or even Somalia. Last but not least development issues. now this is where the NGOs come in.
All in all IR is a wide field and very interesting at that and by now i hope you have understood the basics of IR why it is not PR.
Be curious, be inquisitive and be ready to learn. I will help you demystify international relations and how what happens in one country directly or indirectly affects Kenya as a state or how Kenya's political and economic environment affects the international system. Now have a curious day today till we meet again.
