Module Identifier IP30120  
Module Title INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL THEORY TODAY  
Academic Year 2001/2002  
Co-ordinator Dr Timothy Dunne  
Semester Semester 1  
Course delivery Lecture   12 Hours (12 x 1 hour)  
  Seminars / Tutorials   10 Hours (10 x 1 hour)  
Assessment Essay   1 x 3,000 words   50%  
  Exam   2 Hours   50%  

Aims


The subject matter of international political theory - who gets what, when, where and how on a global scale - is open to a number of contrasting interpretations. One of the overall aims of the course is to help students engage critically with these rival paradigms, and the way in which ideas shape the practices of global politics. This enables us to answer key questions like: How do we choose between competing theories? How do we evaluate the contribution of theory to practice? How useful is international political theory today?

Brief description


It is important for students of international politics to understand that theory is not external to us, rather, we live our lives within theories. We cannot begin to think intelligently about the social world without an understanding of contested issues and concepts such as human rights, trade, revolutions, nationalism, federalism, gender and genocide. To this extent, the subject matter of IPTT does three things: first, it builds on the Part One introductory modules in International Politics; second, develops a number of theoretical issues raised in other Part Two modules; third, seeks to bring an overall coherence to the academic study of international politics.

Objectives


10 ECTS Credits

Reading Lists

Books
** Recommended Text
Mark V.Kauppi and Paul R Viotti (eds). International Relations Theory 3rd edn.
Scott Burchill & Andrew Linklater. Theories of International Relations.