My Interest In The Subject Of International Relations And Politics
In a rapidly changing world, the subject of International Relations has never been more relevant. Our society is rapidly becoming more globalised which has led to an increased emphasis on the value of peaceful and cooperative relationships between nations. All the changes to our modern world have had a profound impact on foreign policy and relations leading to a continual shift in the political landscape. This is what makes international relations so inspiring and intriguing to me as a student. My initial interest in politics and International Relations began to develop whilst I was studying Geography at GCSE.
Currently, at A Level, under the module of ‘Powers and Borders, ’ we have been examining the role of NGO’s in global management and I chose to use Haiti as my case study. However, once I began researching issues that had stunted Haiti’s recovery the one that appeared most damaging was the widespread corruption of NGO’s operating in Haiti. I began watching the scandal that engulfed Oxfam earlier this year and the damage that has done to a long-standing and previously well-respected charity that has been a real-life example of the consequences of corruption and exploitation and how a news story develops in the age of social media. This story also links to my EPQ which was on the subject of ‘Has Feminism Failed?’, which resonated with the exploitation of Haitian women by western aid workers and the imbalance of power in alleged consensual relationships. Moreover, the process of writing my EPQ taught me the skills necessary to work independently and conduct my own research: skills which will be invaluable to me at university.
A key interest of mine within IR is Gender politics. Gender politics continues to dominate the headlines this year with the most recent example being the appointment Brett Kavanaugh as Supreme Court Justice in the United States. This controversial appointment signifies the deep divisions within Trump’s America not only traditional party lines but also the difference between social conservatives and the #Metoo movement. My own opinion is that we need to balance the need to listen to the testimony of the women involved but also respect the rights of the accused. Unfortunately, the rushed FBI report into the allegations did not achieve this and was simply a political expediency. Moreover, at my previous school, I was an active member of the Gender Society. In this society, we focused on the disparity in price between gender neutral products like razors and managed to achieve having some correspondence with Downing Street on the matter. Furthermore, to expand my knowledge of the subject I have begun a MOOC on ‘Global Studies: Risks and Threats in International Relations’. The MOOC has proven extremely valuable to me in examining global issues and discovering how cultural divides impact foreign affairs and global policies. In addition, whilst I’m interested in studying International Relations as an academic subject I’m also very excited about the possibilities of a career with an international organisation after my studies. At my age, I’m still open to a number of careers but the thought of working for an organisation such as the United Nations or an NGO working in refugee management is something I’m very keen to explore during my time at University.
One of my main passions outside the classroom is Hockey. In school, I have been given the opportunity to captain the 2nd team this year which has helped me develop my leadership and teamwork skills. I have played hockey for ten years; I love training and playing, as part of a team and it helps keep me physically fit and mentally resilient. I’m keen to give something back to the sport and so I also coach younger children every Sunday morning on a voluntary basis at my club. To supplement my coaching, I have recently completed the England Hockey’s coaching certification called “Engaging Games for Children”.
