The ways we understand International Relations (IR) really influence how countries work together around the world. Different ideas about how countries behave and cooperate lead to different outcomes. Here are three important perspectives:

1. Realism:

   • This view puts power and national interest first.
   • It means that global cooperation often seems like a dream because countries mainly think about their own survival.
   • For example, during the Cold War, countries focused on their own needs instead of working together.

2. Liberalism:

   • This perspective emphasizes the possibility of working together and the importance of organizations.
   • It believes that international groups, like the United Nations (UN), can help countries collaborate.
   • An example of this is climate agreements, where countries unite to solve big problems affecting the planet.

3. Constructivism:

   • This idea looks at how thoughts, beliefs, and social rules shape our world.
   • It shows that global cooperation can change when people's views change.
   • A good example is how ideas about helping people in crisis have changed since the 1990s.

In summary, these theories help us understand the complicated relationships in global politics.