International relations (IR) is the study of relationships among countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations (IGOs), international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and multinational corporations (MNCs). It is both an academic and public policy field, and can be either positive or normative as it both look for to examine as well as formulate the foreign policy of certain states. It is often considered a branch of political science.