International Relations

Course Objectives

The first part of the course will introduce students to the key concepts of international relations. The second will outline the principle theories of international politics (Marxism, Liberal Internationalism, Realism and Neo-Realism). The third and fourth parts will examine the role and relationship between international institutions and the process of globalization and international conflict, specifically the Cold War and the ongoing war against international terrorism.

Key Learning Outcomes

The aim of this course is to introduce students to key concepts, theories of international politics, the origin and nature of regional and global conflicts and how international political, legal and economic institutions operate in today’s international society /order. This course will be offered as an option to all Pre-Masters students in their second or third semester and will be examined. Eight key learning outcomes are specified for course participants:

• To have developed an understanding of the key concepts and ideas that provide the framework for the study of international relations
• To have become familiar with the structure and working of both security and economic international and regional institutions
• To understand the application of political theory to the understanding of international relations
• To have a basic understanding of the historical development of the current international order and society
• To have an understanding of key international issues in the world today
• To understand the structure and work of the United Nations
• To appreciate the multi-disciplined approach in the study of advanced topics
• To be able to employ research methods to both home and coursework

Course Structure

The structure of the Introduction to International Relations course is as follows:

Introduction: Key Concepts of International Politics

• What is International Relations? Key Concepts of International Relations
• Sovereignty and nationalism
• Diplomacy and international law
• Whether there is an International system or society?
• Is today’s International system better described as an ”Anarchical Society”?
• International order

Principal Theories of International Politics

• Liberal Internationalism
• Marxism and Dependency Theory
• Realism and Neo-Realism

International Institutions and the process of Globalization

• Structure of the United Nations
• Peacekeeping and Peacemaking
• International Tribunals and the International Criminal Court
• Group of Eight, World Bank, IMF and World Trade Organization
• Regional organizations: the European Union and NAFTA

International Conflict

• International Relations during the Cold War
• Nuclear Weapons
• The Bipolar world
• The war against international terrorism in the 1980s
• The war against terrorism after 11 September 2001
• The war in Afghanistan
• The war in Iraq

Assessment and Minimum Standards

Assessment of the course will be based on the marks of one piece of coursework and a two hour final exam. The weighting for each part of the course assessment will be: coursework (30%) exam 70%. The final mark awarded will be out of 100%. The minimum pass mark is 40%.

On completion of the course students will be expected to understand the following theories and concepts:

• The key concepts of International Politics
• To be able to distinguish between the characteristics of an International society and International order
• Understand the basic principles of Marxism, Liberal Internationalism and Realism
• The structure of the United Nations
• The role of the United Nations in the Post-Cold War period
• The difference between peacemaking and peace keeping
• The main features of Globalization
• Structure and functions of the IMF, World Bank and World Trade Organization
• The structure and objectives of the European Union and NATFA
• The bipolar nature of the Cold War World
• The impact of nuclear weapons on international relations
• The war against international terrorism in the 1980s
• The war against terrorism after 11 September 2001

Books Recommended for the Course

Baylis, J. & Smith, S., (2007), The Globalization of World Politics: an Introduction to International Relations. (5th Edition), Oxford: The Oxford University Press

Barber, B. R., (2003) Jihad vs. McWorld: Terrorism’s Challenge to Democracy. London: Corgi Books

Held, D. & McGrew, A., (2003), Globalization/Anti-Globalization. Cambridge: Polity Press

Huntington, S. P., (2002), The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order. (2nd Edition), London: Free Press Ltd.