Introduction to International Relations

This course is an introduction to the field of International Relations –its basic concepts, theories and central concerns such as war and peace, conflict and cooperation and poverty and prosperity. The course will provide you with an understanding of the basic concepts in the field, including sovereignty and globalization and power and interdependence. We will examine different levels of analysis that structure this inquiry, and learn the different ways in which scholars of global politics explain the evolution and functioning of the international system. The course will focus on the nation-state, historically the primary actor in IR, as well as examine the growing role of non-state actors, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and Inter-governmental Organizations (IGOs). Students will develop a basic understanding of different theoretical approaches and utilize these lenses to explain international events, applying this knowledge to explain and understand the foreign relations of specific countries in the international system. As a course designed to meet the Oral Communication Proficiency, students will also be expected to demonstrate and hone oral and written communications skills