International Relations

·This Program explores the full spectrum of theoretical perspectives and debates, ranging from the historically dominant traditions of realism, liberalism and Marxism to traditionally marginalised postcolonialism and green theory. It encourages students to critically reflect on the context of the field and its development and to appreciate the importance of viewing international relations theories from truly representative perspectives. Each chapter theory includes a case study that bridges theory and practice by showing how theory can be used to explain real world political dilemmas, whilst accompanying case study questions encourage analytical thinking and help students understand the value of applying theory to concrete political problems.

·Summary of content:

·1. International Relations and Social Science

·Introduction: meta-theory, ontology, epistemology, positivism

·Philosophy, social science, historical overview

·Positivism and postpositivism

·Rationalism and reflectivism

·Types of theory, theory and practice

·2. Classical Realism

·Community, order and stability

·The balance of power

·Realpolitik, interest and justice

·Change, modernisation, order

·3. Structural Realism

·Defensive and offensive realists, the offence-defence balance

·States, power, security, deterrence

·Causes of great power’s war

·Power shifts and war

·4. Liberalism

·Global trends in armed conflict

·Global trends in governance

·International conflict

·Democracy, international trade, international organisations

·Power, hegemony, and liberalism

·5. Neoliberalism

·International regimes, rationality

·Interdependence and hegemonic stability

·Barriers to international cooperation

·International institutions

·World Trade Organization

·6. The English School

·Realism versus idealism

·International society

·Complex governance

·International society, justice

·7. Marxism

·Social relations in process, agents, capitalism

·Political sphere and economic sphere

·Globalizing capitalism and imperial power:

·Global power and hegemony

·Geopolitics

·8. Critical Theory

·Morality and political economy

·Empirical challenges and institutional norms

·Communication

·Critical reflexivity

·9. Constructivism

·The social construction of reality

·Constructivism and rationalism

·Social being, mutual constitution, social facts, social cognition

·Language and rules, reasons and causes

·10. Feminism

·Gender in IR: knowledge and power

·IR feminist theories: liberal feminism, critical feminism, feminist constructivism, feminist poststructuralism, postcolonial feminism

·Gender, security, and global politics, structural violence, the myth of protection

·Understanding economic insecurity

·11. Poststructuralism

·Knowledge, subjectivity, identity and power

·Interdisciplinary context, theory of truth

·Poststructuralism and the political context

·Language, reality, performance, discourse, materialism

·Discourses of world politics

·12. Postcolonialism

·Postcolonial theory: debates, preoccupations, commitments

·Orietalism, eurocentrism

·Postcolonial international relations: moderization theory

·Narrating postcolonial IR

·13. Normative International Relations Theory

·History and influences

·Cosmopolitanism and communitarianism

·Consequentialism and deontology

·Ethical assumptions: norms, moral inclusion, obligations

·14. Green Theory

·International political economy

·Ecological security, sustainable development, environmental justice

·From environmental issues to green theories, ecological modernization

·Rationalist accounts and green alternatives, challenges

·15. International Relations Theory and Globalization

·Assessing what is at stake in the globalization debate

·Sovereignty, regionalization

·The extent and consequences of globalization

·16. IR as a Contemporary Discipline

·IR and political science

·Social and intellectual structure of IR

·Change and uncertainty

·Models of IR over time, the present and future