Technology and the forces of cultural and economic integration are reducing the distances between societies. At the same time, ethnic, religious, and economic conflicts continue to erupt within and among societies. Both the proximity of other societies and the remaining divides within and among them demand a better understanding of their cultures and institutions. Societies cannot be understood in isolation or at a single point in time, however, they are shaped by global and regional environmentsincluding their political, military, economic, and cultural interestsand their pasts. Individuals and societies in turn shape those environments as they reinterpret their histories. The International Studies Program is multidisciplinary and builds on the strengths of existing international specializations at UC San Diego. International relations and comparative politics are established and distinguished fields of political science. Economic theory and methodologies are critical to an understanding of the global world. The comparative study of societies and their economies, markets, and cultures lies at the core of sociology, business, and anthropology. Literature and linguistics offer a rich array of courses concerned with languages and traditions outside English-speaking societies. And area studies programs provide comprehensive understanding of particular countries and regions.