A Qualitative Examination of Contemporary Research Gaps in International Relations Studies: Analyzing Emerging Global Issues

The field of international relations confronts significant research gaps as established theoretical frameworks struggle to address the multidimensional challenges of the twenty-first century. This study presents a comprehensive qualitative analysis of four priority research domains requiring urgent scholarly attention: artificial intelligence (AI) governance and global power dynamics, climate security and interstate conflict, digital sovereignty in the Global South, and non-state actors in hybrid warfare. Employing systematic literature review and thematic analysis grounded in interpretivist epistemology and critical realist ontology, this research identifies critical theoretical and empirical deficiencies in existing scholarship while proposing integrated frameworks for addressing them. Findings reveal that traditional international relations theories—including realism (Waltz, 1979/2010; Mearsheimer, 2001), liberalism (Keohane, 1984; Ikenberry, 2011), and constructivism (Wendt, 1999; Finnemore & Sikkink, 1998)—require substantial adaptation to address challenges posed by technological transformation, environmental change, and evolving security paradigms. The analysis identifies significant cross-domain interconnections: AI governance intersects with hybrid warfare through autonomous weapons systems and cyber operations, while climate security connects with digital sovereignty through environmental data governance. The paper concludes with evidence-based recommendations for future research agendas, emphasizing interdisciplinary collaboration, methodological innovation, and policy-relevant scholarship. This analysis contributes to advancing international relations scholarships in an era of unprecedented global complexity.