Introduction to International Politics

The goal of this course is to provide an introduction to international politics. We will examine major theories, concepts and issues in contemporary international relations. In the first part of the course, we will examine the theories of realism, liberalism, and constructivism and assess how they conceptualize and understand international politics. In the second part of the course we will explore the topics of war, terrorism, power, human rights, humanitarian intervention, human security and globalization. The last part of the course will focus on current affairs. We will discuss the Arab Spring and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, the rise of China and the future of American global power. The course will provide students with a set of analytical tools and resources that will allow them to think more deeply about international politics