International relations
Introduction to International Relations
Module code: L2008
Level 4
15 credits in autumn semester
Teaching method: Class, Seminar, Lecture
Assessment modes: Coursework, Essay
What is international relations?
On this module, you’ll:
- find out about the study of International Relations (IR)
- explore some of the core questions that define it as a discipline
- explore its most pressing political questions
- examine its contested historical and conceptual terrain.
While the discipline has traditionally traced a path from idealism via realism towards a more pluralist methodological position, you’ll also engage alternative ways of historicising and conceptualising.
You’ll begin to understand:
- these debates
- the circumstances that have given rise to them
- the ideas that they have generated.
This will give you a good orientation in the disciplinary terrain of IR that will help to contextualise the ideas you’ll encounter throughout your degree.
Module learning outcomes
- Understand the reasons for IR as a separate social science.
- Develop an initial understanding of the main IR paradigms and subfields.
- Understand the relationship between theory and practice in IR.
- Produced, in an academically acceptable manner, an essay in which they have demonstrated the ability to write about theoretical issues in International Relations.