PPE3032 – International Relations: Theory and Practice
This course reviews some of the concepts, themes, problems, and facts of contemporary international relations (IR). It looks at how state and non-state actors confront contemporary problems in today’s globalized world.
It also introduces students to the subfields of IR, including international security, international political economy, foreign policy, international relations theory, international organizations, and international law.
A number of case studies will be considered, ranging in span from the Syrian war, to cyber conflict, to the Israeli-Palestinian divide, to human rights and humanitarian intervention. An overview of regional IR—including, time permitting, those of Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia—will also be provided.
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Discuss the historical development of modern and contemporary IR
- Demonstrate a knowledge of the academic discipline of IR
- Understand the main traits of IR since 1945
- Critically assess the different theoretical approaches to IR
- Evaluate common criticisms of the discipline of IR
- Analyse the validity of claims made in defence of the discipline
- Demonstrate a knowledge of contemporary issues in IR
- Critically evaluate the relationship between different players in IR
- Discuss the contemporary significance of the discipline of IR