This course offers students a general introduction to the field of International Relations (IR). It explores a range of issues in international politics, from diplomacy and foreign policy to identity, religion, international political economy, security and globalization. It also addresses the major debates and concepts in the field of IR, highlights the complexity and multi-layered nature of international politics, and offers both mainstream and critical perspectives of world politics.

Given that the field of IR is highly plural, the course offers a range of theoretical perspectives in a comparative context. Moreover, it focuses on the ways in which different IR theories make different aspects of world politics visible and intelligible. The course teaches students to apply theory to empirical realities, thereby systematically disclosing new dimensions of IR through research.

 

Format
This course is mostly based on an interactive combination of student presentations, short lectures, role-playing gameing, and class-room discussions. Apart from small assignments, there will be a take-home mid-term exam and a final paper.