Ask a CSS aspirant why they picked International Relations as an optional subject, and the honest answer is often about Current Affairs, not international theory. That instinct is worth examining properly, because IR sits in the same optional group as Political Science, and candidates need to understand clearly that this is a choice between the two, not a combination.
ICEP CSS Institute teaches International Relations under Sir Abu Bakar, who holds an MPhil in Political Science and applies the same FPSC-recommended, source-based methodology to IR that he uses for Political Science, even though a candidate will ultimately study one or the other, not both.
Political Science and IR Sit in the Same Group
This is the single most important structural fact a candidate needs before choosing between these two subjects. International Relations and Political Science both fall under Group I of the CSS optional subjects, and FPSC’s grouping rules allow a candidate to select only one subject from Group I.
Both subjects carry equal weight in this decision. International Relations is a 200-mark subject, split into two papers of 100 marks each, exactly like Political Science. Paper I covers the foundational theory of the discipline, and Paper II moves into applied international relations, including regional and global security issues and Pakistan’s position within them. There is no lighter option here by mark count. A candidate choosing IR sits two full papers and commits the same 200-mark share of their optional total as a candidate choosing Political Science. This is a genuine either-or decision based on subject fit, not workload.
What International Relations Actually Covers
Paper I opens with the definition and scope of international relations as a discipline, the modern nation-state system, and the evolution of international society. It then moves into the major theoretical frameworks used to explain state behaviour, from classical realism and idealism through to neo-realism, neo-liberalism, and more recent approaches like constructivism and critical theory. This paper also covers international political security, including how security is understood in the current century, the balance of power between states, and the determinants of foreign policy decision-making.
Paper II applies this theoretical grounding to specific regions and issues. It typically covers major twentieth-century developments that shaped the modern international order, alongside more region-specific content relevant to Pakistan’s strategic environment, including South Asian security dynamics, the Kashmir issue, nuclear proliferation and doctrine, and Pakistan’s position on weapons of mass destruction and non-proliferation regimes. Pakistan’s foreign policy, its historical decisions and current positioning, runs through both papers rather than sitting in a single isolated section.
This is not simply current affairs with an academic label. It requires genuine theoretical grounding in Paper I, applied consistently and specifically to real regional and global dynamics in Paper II.
Why Aspirants Choose IR Over Political Science
Since a candidate must choose one, the decision comes down to genuine subject fit rather than any difference in workload, since both carry the same 200 marks across two papers.
Strong natural overlap with Current Affairs. This is the reason most commonly given by aspirants who choose IR, and it holds up under scrutiny. Current Affairs, as a compulsory subject, has a genuinely vast scope, covering domestic governance, regional developments, and global events, with international relations forming a large and recurring share of that content. Students who already have a strong interest in international events, global institutions, and foreign policy find that IR preparation directly reinforces the international dimension of their Current Affairs studying, rather than requiring a separate, unrelated body of knowledge. A candidate who follows global affairs closely as part of their general interest is often already partway prepared for large parts of the IR syllabus before formal classes even begin.
A theoretical framework that explains, not just describes, global events. Students who find themselves naturally drawn to understanding why states act the way they do, rather than simply what happened, tend to find IR’s theoretical grounding a better fit than Political Science’s broader focus on political thought and Pakistan’s domestic governance structures.
Direct relevance to regional security and strategic issues. Paper II’s focus on South Asian security, Kashmir, and nuclear policy appeals strongly to candidates already engaged with Pakistan’s strategic and defence-related current affairs, giving them a subject that matches an existing area of reading interest rather than one they need to build from scratch.
Why Some Aspirants Choose Political Science Instead
The reverse is equally true for a different kind of candidate. Students more interested in Pakistan’s internal governance, constitutional structure, and domestic political history, rather than its international positioning, often find Political Science the more natural fit. Its overlap runs more toward Pakistan Affairs than Current Affairs, since Political Science Paper II focuses heavily on the working of democracy in Pakistan and domestic political evolution, while IR’s Paper II looks outward toward regional and global dynamics.
The right choice ultimately depends on where a candidate’s genuine interest and existing reading habits sit. A student who reads more foreign policy, regional security, and international news than domestic political commentary is a stronger natural fit for IR. A student more engaged with Pakistan’s internal political history and governance debates fits Political Science better.
Where Candidates Go Wrong With International Relations
Assuming IR theory is simply political theory applied globally. International relations theory is its own discipline with its own major frameworks for explaining state behaviour. Candidates who blur it with general political theory often produce answers that sound informed but miss the specific IR vocabulary and theoretical frameworks examiners expect, particularly across the different schools covered in Paper I.
Under-preparing the security and strategic content in Paper II. This portion of the syllabus, covering nuclear doctrine, proliferation regimes, and regional security dynamics, is more technical and less intuitive for candidates coming from a general current affairs background. It gets skipped in revision more often than the more familiar historical and foreign policy content.
Letting Pakistan’s foreign policy content go stale. This runs through both papers and requires current, updated knowledge rather than static historical facts. Foreign policy positions and regional security dynamics shift, and an answer built on outdated understanding reads as disconnected from present reality.
Treating the two papers as one undifferentiated block. Paper I is theoretical and conceptual. Paper II is applied and regional. Candidates who prepare only broad general knowledge without separating theoretical mastery from applied, region-specific depth tend to underperform on whichever paper receives less deliberate attention.
How to Structure a Strong IR Answer
FPSC rewards the same analytical standard in IR that it rewards across every optional subject: a clear position, defended with specific theoretical or factual support, rather than a general description of the topic. A strong Paper I answer does not simply define a theoretical school. It states a position on the theory’s explanatory power for a specific situation, historical or current, and defends that position using the theory’s actual concepts and terminology. A strong Paper II answer on a topic like regional security or nuclear policy takes a clear position on the underlying strategic logic and defends it with specific, current evidence rather than a general timeline of events.
How ICEP Structures International Relations Preparation
Sir Abu Bakar teaches IR using the same governance-literature-based methodology applied to Political Science, drawing on FPSC-recommended sources on international relations theory and Pakistan’s strategic environment rather than relying on generalist current affairs summaries. Classes are structured around the specific gap most IR candidates arrive with: strong general awareness of international events, but limited grounding in formal IR theory and the more technical security and strategic content in Paper II.
The theoretical frameworks in Paper I, and the security and non-proliferation content in Paper II, both receive dedicated classroom time specifically because these are the areas candidates most commonly under-prepare on their own. Students are also guided explicitly on how the IR syllabus connects to and strengthens their Current Affairs preparation, since the overlap is real but needs deliberate study planning to use effectively.
International Relations connects meaningfully to other subjects across the CSS syllabus even though it cannot be studied alongside Political Science. Its strongest overlap is with Current Affairs preparation, a connection explored further in the role Current Affairs plays across the CSS exam and in Pakistan Affairs versus Current Affairs, which clarifies where domestic and international preparation diverge. Candidates weighing IR against Political Science should read both subject breakdowns before finalising their Group I choice, since the decision cannot be reversed easily once preparation is underway. Building a defensible thesis for an IR theory question relies on the same argument-construction skills taught in English Essay preparation, and expressing that argument with precision within a strict word count draws on English Precis and Composition. The same analytical discipline examiners reward in IR is reinforced by the precise, well-organised answer writing taught in General Science and Ability, and candidates studying Islamic Studies and Comparative Religion alongside IR often find the same structured, source-based study approach transfers directly between subjects.
Fee and Batch Information
International Relations is taught as part of the CSS Annual Plan 2027 and the CSS Prime Session 2026, and is available as a standalone module for candidates who want focused optional preparation alongside self-study for other subjects. Classes run in morning, evening, and weekend batches at the New Garden Town campus, with online sessions available for students preparing outside Lahore. Fee depends on the program and format selected, so the confirmed figure requires a direct call to ICEP at +92 309 1447989.
Why ICEP for International Relations
Sir Abu Bakar’s MPhil in Political Science and his command over FPSC-recommended governance and international relations literature give IR preparation at ICEP genuine academic depth across both papers, built specifically for candidates whose interest and strength lean toward the international, Current Affairs-adjacent side of the CSS syllabus rather than Pakistan’s domestic political structure.
ICEP CSS Institute is located at 22-B New, Ali Block New Garden Town, Lahore, 54000, opposite Barkat Market. Call +92 309 1447989 to ask about the next batch.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take both International Relations and Political Science as optional subjects?
No. Both subjects fall under Group I, and FPSC rules permit only one subject from this group. Candidates must choose either Political Science or International Relations, not both.
How many marks does International Relations carry?
International Relations is a 200-mark subject, split into two papers of 100 marks each, the same total and structure as Political Science.
Who should choose International Relations over Political Science?
Candidates with a strong interest in global affairs, foreign policy, and regional security, and whose Current Affairs preparation already leans toward international events, tend to find IR a more natural fit. Candidates more focused on Pakistan’s domestic governance and political history often prefer Political Science instead.
Does International Relations really help with Current Affairs preparation?
Yes, meaningfully. Current Affairs has a wide scope that includes significant international content, and IR’s theoretical grounding in state behaviour, global institutions, and regional security directly reinforces that portion of Current Affairs preparation.
What part of the IR syllabus do candidates most often neglect?
The more technical security and strategic content in Paper II, including nuclear doctrine and non-proliferation regimes, tends to get under-prepared, since candidates often focus more heavily on the more familiar theoretical and historical portions of the syllabus.
What is the fee for International Relations classes at ICEP?
International Relations is included in the CSS Annual Plan 2027 and CSS Prime Session 2026, and is also available as a standalone module. The exact fee depends on the program and format chosen, so contact ICEP at +92 309 1447989 for the current figure.
Are online International Relations classes available for students outside Lahore?
Yes. Classes are available online alongside in-person batches at the New Garden Town campus, with morning, evening, and weekend timings.