IR3083 International political theory
Prerequisites (applies to degree students only)
IR1011 Introduction to international relations.
Syllabus
Contributions to theorizing international politics in the tradition of Western political theory. This will include examining the ideas of Thucydides, Augustine, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Grotius, Rousseau, Kant, Marx and Weber.
Dominant theories of international politics from the foundation of international relations as a discipline in 1919 to the end of the Cold War: a) Liberalism (liberal internationalism, pluralism, interdependence, neo-liberalism); b) realism (classical political realism and neo-realism); c) international society; d) Marxism/ structuralism (dependency, world-systems theory).
Critical theories of international politics: a) critical theory; b) post-structuralism; c) feminist theory.
Methodological debates: a) can IR be a science? b) structure and agency in explaining international politics; c) constructivism.
Theorizing international politics in the 21st century: a) normative discourse in international politics; b) unipolarity and the question of empire; c) cultural bias in IR theory.
