---
title: "Internationalism | Intro to Political Science"
description: "Internationalism is the view that states should cooperate on global problems through shared rules and institutions in Intro to Political Science."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/intro-to-poli-sci/key-terms/internationalism"
type: "key-term"
subject: "Intro to Political Science"
unit: "Unit 15"
---

# Internationalism | Intro to Political Science

## Definition

Internationalism is the political idea that countries should work together on shared problems instead of acting only in narrow national interest. In Intro to Political Science, it shows up in the study of the UN, IGOs, and global governance.

## What It Is

Internationalism in Intro to Political Science is the belief that states do better when they cooperate through shared rules, institutions, and diplomacy instead of acting alone. It is not the same thing as saying national interests do not matter. It means countries recognize that some problems, like war, climate change, trade disputes, migration, and financial instability, cross borders and need joint action.

A political scientist usually talks about internationalism in the context of global governance. That includes organizations like the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the International Monetary Fund, where states negotiate, make agreements, and sometimes accept limits on their freedom of action. The point is coordination. If one country raises tariffs, launches sanctions, or ignores a security crisis on its own, the result can be less stable than if states act together.

Internationalism also connects to the idea of interdependence. Countries are linked by trade, security ties, communication networks, and environmental systems, so a decision in one place can ripple outward. That is why internationalists often argue for multilateral solutions, meaning many countries working through the same framework. In class, you might see this when discussing how the UN provides a forum for debate or how IGOs create common rules for member states.

A useful way to picture internationalism is to compare it with unilateralism. Unilateralism means a state acts mostly on its own, even when the issue affects others too. Internationalism says a state should prefer negotiation, treaties, and institutions because the problem is shared and the payoff is bigger when countries pool resources or coordinate policy.

This idea also has limits. Internationalism does not erase disagreement, and IGOs do not force perfect cooperation. States still protect sovereignty, bargain hard, and sometimes ignore international pressure. So in Intro to Political Science, internationalism is best understood as a practical philosophy of cooperation, not a claim that global politics is easy or that nations stop competing.

## Why It Matters

Internationalism shows up whenever your class asks how the world handles problems no single state can solve alone. It gives you the lens for understanding why the United Nations exists, why countries join trade organizations, and why leaders choose treaties over isolated action.

It also helps you read real political behavior more accurately. If a government supports climate agreements, peacekeeping missions, or coordinated sanctions, that is usually an internationalist move. If it rejects those arrangements and stresses complete policy independence, that is closer to nationalism or unilateralism.

This term matters because Intro to Political Science often asks you to compare institutions and explain their tradeoffs. Internationalism can increase coordination, reduce conflict, and make global rules more predictable, but it can also frustrate states that want more control over their own policy choices. That tension is a common theme in essays, class discussion, and case studies.

When you understand internationalism, you can explain why countries sometimes accept compromise even when they do not fully agree. You are not just naming an organization, you are identifying the logic behind cooperation in world politics.

## Connections

### Globalization

Globalization is the broader process that makes countries more connected through trade, communication, migration, and culture. Internationalism is one political response to that reality. When interdependence grows, states often turn to internationalist cooperation because the problems now travel across borders too.

### [Multilateralism](/intro-to-poli-sci/key-terms/multilateralism)

Multilateralism is the method of working with several countries at once, usually through shared negotiations or institutions. Internationalism is the wider philosophy behind that approach. A country can support multilateral treaties or IGOs because it believes collective action is better than acting alone.

### [International Cooperation](/intro-to-poli-sci/key-terms/international-cooperation)

International cooperation is the practical behavior that internationalism encourages. It shows up when states coordinate on trade, peacekeeping, public health, or environmental policy. If you see countries sharing resources or agreeing to common rules, you are looking at international cooperation in action.

### [General Assembly](/intro-to-poli-sci/key-terms/general-assembly)

The General Assembly is one of the UN bodies where internationalist ideas become visible in institutional form. It gives member states a space to debate global issues and build consensus, even though its resolutions are not the same as direct law. It reflects the belief that dialogue among nations matters.

## On the AP Exam

A quiz question may ask you to identify which political idea best fits a country joining a climate treaty, supporting UN peacekeeping, or backing trade rules through an IGO. In short-answer or essay responses, use internationalism to explain why a state chooses cooperation over acting alone. If a prompt gives you a scenario about global problems, name the internationalist logic and connect it to shared institutions, collective security, or coordinated policy. If the question compares worldviews, contrast internationalism with nationalism or unilateralism and point to sovereignty, compromise, and global interdependence. The strongest answers do more than define the term, they show how it shapes state behavior.

## Internationalism vs Nationalism

Nationalism and internationalism both describe political priorities, but they point in different directions. Nationalism puts the nation’s interests, identity, and sovereignty first, while internationalism emphasizes cooperation across borders and shared solutions to global problems. In a class scenario, nationalism sounds like protecting domestic control, while internationalism sounds like joining treaties or institutions.

## Key Takeaways

- Internationalism is the view that countries should solve shared problems through cooperation, rules, and institutions rather than acting alone.
- In Intro to Political Science, the term usually comes up with the United Nations, IGOs, trade policy, security policy, and global governance.
- Internationalism does not mean states stop caring about their own interests, it means they recognize that some interests are better served through coordination.
- A good way to spot internationalism in a scenario is to look for treaties, multilateral action, or support for international institutions.
- It is often contrasted with nationalism or unilateralism, which stress sovereignty and independent action more strongly.

## FAQs

### What is Internationalism in Intro to Political Science?

Internationalism is the belief that states should cooperate on global issues through diplomacy, treaties, and institutions. In Intro to Political Science, it is usually discussed through the UN, IGOs, and the idea that some problems require collective action.

### Is internationalism the same as globalization?

No. Globalization is the process that increases connections among countries, while internationalism is a political approach to managing those connections. Globalization can create the conditions for internationalism, but the two terms are not interchangeable.

### What is an example of internationalism?

A country joining a climate agreement, supporting UN peacekeeping, or coordinating trade rules through the WTO all show internationalism. The common thread is that the state accepts cooperation and shared rules instead of making every decision on its own.

### How is internationalism different from nationalism?

Nationalism centers the nation’s own interests and sovereignty, while internationalism prioritizes cooperation with other states. A nationalism-focused government may resist outside limits, while an internationalist one is more willing to work through agreements and organizations.

## Related Study Guides

- [15.3 The United Nations and Global Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs)](/intro-to-poli-sci/unit-15/3-united-nations-global-intergovernmental-organizations-igos/study-guide/2JExd1MyHrS7a1rn)

## About This Document

Canonical Fiveable pages are available as Markdown at the same path plus `.md`.

- [llms.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms.txt): index of Fiveable's sections and URL patterns
- [llms-full.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms-full.txt): complete subject and unit listing
- [MCP server](https://fiveable.me/mcp): call Fiveable as tools instead of fetching pages (`https://fiveable.me/api/mcp`)
- [MCP server for AP teachers](https://fiveable.me/mcp/teachers): a teacher's classes, assignments and AP-rubric grading (`https://fiveable.me/api/mcp/teacher`)

## Structured Data

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"LearningResource","@id":"https://fiveable.me/intro-to-poli-sci/key-terms/internationalism#resource","name":"Internationalism | Intro to Political Science","url":"https://fiveable.me/intro-to-poli-sci/key-terms/internationalism","learningResourceType":"Concept explainer","educationalLevel":"AP® / High School","about":{"@id":"https://fiveable.me/intro-to-poli-sci/key-terms/internationalism#term"},"audience":{"@type":"EducationalAudience","educationalRole":"student"},"dateModified":"2026-07-03T02:22:37.105Z","isPartOf":{"@type":"Collection","name":"Intro to Political Science Key Terms","url":"https://fiveable.me/intro-to-poli-sci/key-terms"},"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://fiveable.me/editorial#content-team","name":"Fiveable Content Team","url":"https://fiveable.me/editorial","parentOrganization":{"@id":"https://fiveable.me/#organization"},"member":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Amanda DoAmaral","sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/adoamaral"]},{"@type":"Person","name":"Becky Bahr","sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-bahr-b52743132"]}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Fiveable","url":"https://fiveable.me"}},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","@id":"https://fiveable.me/intro-to-poli-sci/key-terms/internationalism#term","name":"Internationalism","description":"Internationalism is the political idea that countries should work together on shared problems instead of acting only in narrow national interest. In Intro to Political Science, it shows up in the study of the UN, IGOs, and global governance.","url":"https://fiveable.me/intro-to-poli-sci/key-terms/internationalism","inDefinedTermSet":{"@type":"DefinedTermSet","name":"Intro to Political Science Key Terms","url":"https://fiveable.me/intro-to-poli-sci/key-terms"}},{"@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"What is Internationalism in Intro to Political Science?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Internationalism is the belief that states should cooperate on global issues through diplomacy, treaties, and institutions. In Intro to Political Science, it is usually discussed through the UN, IGOs, and the idea that some problems require collective action."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Is internationalism the same as globalization?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. Globalization is the process that increases connections among countries, while internationalism is a political approach to managing those connections. Globalization can create the conditions for internationalism, but the two terms are not interchangeable."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What is an example of internationalism?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A country joining a climate agreement, supporting UN peacekeeping, or coordinating trade rules through the WTO all show internationalism. The common thread is that the state accepts cooperation and shared rules instead of making every decision on its own."}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How is internationalism different from nationalism?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Nationalism centers the nation’s own interests and sovereignty, while internationalism prioritizes cooperation with other states. A nationalism-focused government may resist outside limits, while an internationalist one is more willing to work through agreements and organizations."}}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Intro to Political Science","item":"https://fiveable.me/intro-to-poli-sci"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Key Terms","item":"https://fiveable.me/intro-to-poli-sci/key-terms"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Unit 15","item":"https://fiveable.me/intro-to-poli-sci/unit-15"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Internationalism"}]}]}
```