Ethical Issues in International Relations — Foreign Policy Ethics, Global Justice, War

What should you study in Ethical Issues in International Relations?

• International relations ethics — just war theory, humanitarian intervention
• Global justice — Rawlsian approach to world poverty
• Nuclear ethics — deterrence vs disarmament moral argument
• Foreign aid ethics — conditionality vs sovereignty

How often is Ethical Issues in International Relations asked in UPSC Mains?

Asked in 2 of 10 years, including 1 of the last 5. Highlighted years below are the ones it appeared in.

1. 2016: not asked
2. 2017: not asked
3. 2018: not asked
4. 2019: not asked
5. 2020: asked
6. 2021: not asked
7. 2022: not asked
8. 2023: asked
9. 2024: not asked
10. 2025: not asked

About the Mains GS Paper IV paper

GS Paper IV is the 250-mark Mains paper on ethics, integrity and aptitude, including case studies. See all 34 Mains GS Paper IV topics.

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