International relations, as I see it, is a field which functions in shades of grey. Its various theories both overlap and contradict each other, small-scale factors interconnect to form wide-reaching results, and it often offers no black and white answers. That the field used to tackle issues on a global scale can be so ambiguous, yet so effective, intrigues me, motivating my desire to pursue international relations.
My coursework has given me the opportunity to acquire and refine skills necessary for the study of international relations. Frequently analysing content learned in History has allowed me to develop a system to effectively understand and critically analyse an event or source. When tasked with analysing how US occupation in the 1940s changed Japanese societal structure, I methodically compared points and counterpoints, concluding the changes were minimal. My interest in History prompted me to write my Extended Essay on India’s non-alignment policy, and whether Nehru’s idealism was the main motivation for it. Sifting through contemporary and historical evidence, I gained an understanding of how to thoroughly evaluate often contradictory sources. Observing how contemporary Indian historians tended to be harsher on Nehru than their historical or non-Indian counterparts, I was able to attribute this to the increasingly negative popular opinion of Nehru in India today. Coursework in Literature allowed me to strengthen my communication skills and my ability to develop an effective thesis. Within a comparative essay, I presented a feminist reading of two of Szymborska’s works and was able to use poetic devices and word choice to support my arguments.
My involvement in extracurricular activities has been invaluable. An integral aspect of my Model United Nations experience was representing nations I disagreed with- defending Turkey’s affiliations with ISIS and Russia’s data privacy infringements gave me a depth of understanding of these issues that simply reading about them could not. I learned that a true understanding of a situation in international affairs requires an understanding of the motivations of all actors involved. Moreover, my role as an Under-Secretary-General greatly strengthened my verbal communication skills, as two conferences of over 500 participants required me to conduct training for student officers and collaborate with peers to manage logistics. Law Academy’s discussion of high profile cases helped me understand the need for a robust international legal system that acts as a check and balance for nations. Similarly, a presentation I attended on Singapore’s place in international law, given by a representative of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, taught me the intricacies of these systems.
Further reading allowed me to discover an area of particular interest: the influence of technology on the interactions of states. The unprecedented effects of cyber warfare on international security first became clear to me upon reading ‘Countdown to Zero Day’ by Kim Zetter, which details the story of the world’s first digital weapon. What I found most fascinating was that, despite attacks growing in scale and frequency, many nations lack even a concrete definition of what constitutes an act of war in cyber warfare. The article ‘Cyber Insecurity’ in the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs reinforced the need for definitive norms for state interactions in cyberspace and led me to question the applicability of current security theories to cyber war. Technology’s impact on international relations is a rapidly developing area, and I am eager to deepen my understanding.
I have been fortunate enough to study in an international, open-minded environment that has fostered my interest in this field. Keeping in mind that not all have been given these opportunities, I have strived to use them to the best of my ability. Undoubtedly, I have much yet to learn, and I am eager to do so at the undergraduate level.