Admission requirements
MSc International Relations and Diplomacy students.
Description
This course serves as an advanced introduction into theories and approaches of international relations (IR). The first part of the course examines a broad range of IR theories, including realism, liberalism, constructivism, and critical approaches to IR, and debates on concepts such as power, anarchy, norms, and institutions. In the second part, we apply theories to several substantive issues central to international politics, such as the causes of war and peace, nuclear proliferation, rising powers, humanitarian intervention, among others. Assignments will provide students with the opportunity to think critically about existing approaches, apply them to explain processes and events in international politics and build on them to develop their own stance with respect to a pressing policy concern in contemporary global politics.
Course objectives
Objective 1: Students will deepen their understanding of international relations theories and approaches by examining the core debates of the field and learn how to apply these theories to contemporary global politics.
Objective 2: Students will be given the opportunity to hone their research, writing, and presentation skills.
Timetable
See the link on the frontpage.
Mode of instruction
This course is a seminar. Most time is spent on the discussion of the reading material.
Course Load
10 EC
Assessment method
Active participation in class through written work and debates.
Assignments include:
Response papers (30%)
Participation in roundtable debate (30%)
Final essay (40%)
Details for submitting papers (deadlines) are posted on Blackboard.
Failed partial grades or components should be compensated by passed partial grades or components. The calculated grade must be at least 5,5 to pass the course. It is not possible to re-sit a partial grade or component once you have passed the course.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used in this class.
Reading list
The readings for the first session and recommendations for book purchases will be available on Blackboard a few weeks before the start of the class. These will include journal articles and book chapters.
Students with limited previous training in International Relations may purchase the following book for background reading:
Dunne, Tim, Milja Kurki and Steve Smith eds. 2016. International Relations Theories, 4th edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Registration
Use both uSis and Blackboard to register for every course.
Register for every course and workgroup via uSis. Some courses and workgroups have a limited number of participants, so register on time (before the course starts). In uSis you can access your personal schedule and view your results. Registration in uSis is possible from four weeks before the start of the course.
Also register for every course in Blackboard. Important information about the course is posted here.