This module is not currently running in 2021 to 2022.
This module is addressed to students who have hitherto had no training in the academic field of International Relations. It aims to establish a good basis from which to appreciate at a higher level the theoretical schools of thought in the study of international relations, and to provide a strong grounding in the study of international politics as the basis for the further study in Stage 2 on the subject matter of the discipline of international relations. The course proceeds by examining a number of theoretical perspectives on International Relations and offers examples from history and current affairs to demonstrate the extent to which theories can be used to make sense of major issues in areas such as international security and international political economy.
11 lectures and 11 seminars
50% coursework (essay of maximum 1,500 - 2,000 words); 50% exam (2hr)
Timothy Dunne, Milja Kurki, Steve Smith (eds.), International Relations Theories: Discipline and Diversity (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006)
BROWN, C. - 'Understanding International Relations'
Knud Erik Jørgensen, International Relations Theory: A New Introduction (Palgrave MacMillan, 2010)
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
Students will:
- Have an awareness of, and have been given a basic level of exposure to, many of the major issue areas in the study of contemporary international relations
- Be aware of the main sub-fields that exist within the study of international relations and be able to relate them to each other
- Have established a good basis from which to appreciate at a higher level the theoretical schools of thought in the study of international relations
- Have provided a strong grounding in the study of international politics (including factual and conceptual questions) as the basis for the further study in Part 2 on the subject matter of the discipline of international relations
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