Theories of international relations
Etablissement : ESPOL European School of Political and Social Sciences
Langue : Anglais
Formation(s) dans laquelle/lesquelles le cours apparait :
Période : S3
Assignments and grades
TDs (60%) – mandatory course:
- Mid-term: Research paper (30%) of 1,500 – 2,000 words. The research paper aims to use two chosen IR theories to analyse a concrete case of the student’s choice and compare the explanatory power of the two theories. Details about the methodology and the submission deadline will be provided in the TDs.
- Group presentation (15%): presentation of the compulsory readings (two students per reading).
- Class debate/participation (15%): participation during the class debates.
Final exam (40%) based on the lecture.
- Two hour-exam with 16 MCQ (+1 point per correct answer, -1 point per wrong answer, 0 points per no answer) and 2 questions (to be answered in less than 150 words).
The learning objectives can be summarised as follows:
- To familiarize students with the foundational theories of International Relations.
- To understand the historical and intellectual contexts in which these theories emerged.
- To critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different IR theories.
This course explores the major theories and approaches in the study of International Relations (IR), examining the intellectual foundations and historical evolution of the field. We will critically engage with various paradigms, including realism, liberalism, Marxism, critical theory, postcolonialism, and feminism. By the end of the course, students will be able to critically analyse the various theoretical perspectives that shape the study and practice of IR today.
