Having a strong understanding of the global political environment is crucial and a perfectly necessary element of being a college-educated person in the 21st century. In today's 24-hour news cycle, where the CNN effect has forever changed that form of media, people today are saturated with information about international systems, political and social idealism, and more as they move through the day. To better understand this global environment, I enrolled in a course titled International Relations (IR). Within IR, three main theories are studied to explain politics and international relations. They are realism and neorealism theory of power; liberalism and neoliberal theory of reciprocity and identity principles. (Dr.P,Handout) The third main theory of study is that of Marxist/socialist and radical approaches to international relations. (Dr.P, Handout) Each of these theoretical paradigms is imperfect and contains shortcomings in terms of perspective, over- or under-emphasizing certain aspects of international relations. To better understand each of these approaches you must first explore them and discover and use one of the most effective current methods. Among these theoretical paradigms is that of the realist school of political thought which attempts to explain the field of international relations in terms of power. (G&P 43) It is through these paradigms that the concept of power politics was founded and supported. (G&P, 44). That is, politics that is reduced by using the military and economic power of states against another state to obtain the result that that state wishes to obtain in the international field. (G&P,44). Unlike alternative political theories to be explored late…middle of the paper…it is attractive if you are a member of the upper classes this theory is not attractive, this has led to many conflicts both violent and non-violent. (Lesson, September 24). As the gap between the world's rich and poor increases conflict, violence and extreme poverty ensure. In conclusion, in the field of international relations three main theories are studied to explain politics and international relations. They are realism and neorealism, power theory, liberalism/neoliberalism, Marxism/socialism and radical approaches to international relations. Among these theoretical paradigms, each is imperfect and contains shortcomings in its perspective, over- or under-emphasizing certain aspects of international relations. It is necessary to use elements of all three of these theories as they all have their own strengths in explaining the state of international relations.