Admission requirements
This course is open to Erasmus Exchange Students (Public Administration), Students of the Minor Bestuurskunde: Openbaar Bestuur, Beleid en Management, and Leiden University students (elective/keuzevak). Per group a max number of students is determined.
Description
A broad introduction to the international political system, main theories of international politics and foreign policy making, and the nature of main international organizations such as the UN and its agencies and programs, regional organizations, NATO, as well as international non-governmental organizations. The focus is on maintaining peace, security, human rights, care for the global environment and socio-economic progress.
Course objectives
1) To understand the major concepts of international relations (power, anarchic system, balance of power, conflict and cooperation)
2) To critically evaluate theories and approaches to international relations and understand how they apply to real-world case studies
3) to identify the key actors in international relations (states, NGOs, international and intergovernmental organizations)
4) To improve understanding of how the global and regional systems work, the main problems of international governance, and how to tackle global policy issues more effectively
Timetable
Mode of instruction
Lectures and class discussions.
Course Load
140 hours total:
Lectures (partly in seminar format, including presentations): 7× 2 hours.
Written exam: 5 hours (incl. feedback)
Self-study: 121 hours (including reading / research paper)
Assessment method
The final grade is the weighted average of:
Written exam: 50%
Individual research paper: 50%
You can find more information about assessments and the timetable of exams on the website. Details for submitting papers (deadlines) are posted on Blackboard. On the Public Administration front page of the E-guide you will find links to the website, uSis and Blackboard.
Resit Students will be permitted to resit an examination if they have taken the first sit and earned a mark between 3 and 5.5 or with permission of the Board of Examiners.
Resit written exam Students that want to take part in a resit for a written exam, are required to register via uSis. Use the activity number that can be found on the ‘timetable exams’.
Blackboard
The Blackboard page will be available at the latest 2 weeks before the start of the course. All course materials will be communicated through blackboard.
Reading list
Jackson, R., and Sørensen, G. (2013). Introduction to International Relations: Theories and Approaches, 5th edition, Oxford University Press.
Registration
Use both uSis and Blackboard to register for every course. Register for every course and workgroup via uSis. This course has 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.