Module Identifier
IPM0530
Module Title
INTERNATIONAL POLITICS 1: THEORIES AND CONCEPTS (S)
Academic Year
2008/2009
Co-ordinator
Simona-Elena Rentea
Semester
Semester 1
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Seminars / Tutorials 20 Hours. 1 x 2 hour seminars per week
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Seminar performance  10%
Semester Assessment Essay  1 x 3,000 word essay  30%
Semester Assessment Extended Essay  1 x 5,000 word essay  60%
Supplementary Assessment Supplementary assessment essays  100%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

By the end of the course we expect that students will have developed the skills necessary to do the following:

1. Critically engage with key questions and arguments in International Relations Theory;
2. Critically reflect upon the contribution of political, social and legal theory to the study of International Relations;
3. Demonstrate an awareness of the relationship between International Relations Theory and debates in the philosophy of social science/history;
4. Identify and discuss the methodological, epistemological and political implications of a wide range of theoretical positions in International Relations.

Aims

The core module of the MScEcon International Relations Theory programme provides an in-depth specialization in International Relations Theory. Students are expected to reflect on epistemological, political, and moral implications of studying contemporary world politics from various theoretical perspectives. The module is taught by two-hour seminars. During the course of the module, students are expected to take part in both large and small group discussions, present and defend their ideas within an academic setting, and participate in group projects. Those pursuing the Research Training (RT) stream will find that there is plenty of discussion in this module of methodological and epistemological issues that link to their wider research training programme. All students will find that discussion of these issues will be relevant to research towards the dissertation.

Content

The module examines six key concepts in international relations theory:
anarchy, history, sovereignty, power, law and ethics. Particular attention is paid to the ways in which these concepts are understood within different theoretical traditions. It is hoped that the module will shed new light on a subject often portrayed as a series of rival schools of thought, or incommensurable 'isms', by breaking down disciplinary boundaries around which the stuff of international relations has been organised.

Transferable skills

Throughout the teaching and the assessment of the module the students will develop a range of transferable skills. The module will require the use of IT skills and general research skills in order to identify and search for appropriate data and sources. Students will also develop: critical thinking; rational argumentation strategies; logical thinking; writing skills; reading strategies; note-taking; report writing; presentational skills; and skills related to working in groups.

15 ECTS credits

Reading List

Recommended Text
Carr, E. H. (1970) The Twenty Year Crisis London:Macmillan Primo search Carr, E. H. (1964) What is History? Harmondsworth: Penguin Primo search Clark, I. (1999) Globalization and International Relations Theory Oxford: OUP Primo search Edkins, J. (2003) Trauma and the Memory of Politics Cambridge University Press Primo search Enloe, C. (1990) Bananas, Beaches and Bases: Making Feminist Sense of International Politics Berkeley: University of California Press Primo search Foucault, M. (Gordon, C. ed) 'The Juridical Apparatus', Power/Knowledge New York: Pantheon Books Primo search Gordon, C. Morganthau, Hans Politics Among Nations New York: Alfred Knopf Primo search Walker, R. B. J. (1992) Inside/Outside:International Relations as Political Theory Cambridge University Press Primo search
Bull, Hedley (2002.) The anarchical society :a study of order in world politics /Hedley Bull ; forewords by Stanley Hoffmann and Andrew Hurrell. Primo search Campbell, David (1998.) National deconstruction :violence, identity, and justice in Bosnia /David Campbell. Primo search Collingwood, R. G. (1993.) The idea of history : with lectures 1926-1928 /R.G. Collingwood. Primo search Connor, James E. (1968) Lenin on Politics and Revolution:Selected Writings Primo search Horkheimer, Max (1982.) Critical theory :selected essays /Max Horkheimer ; translated by Matthew J. O'Connell and others. Primo search Kelsen, Hans (1961 [c1945]) General theory of law and state /Translated by Anders Wedberg. Primo search Keohane, Robert O. (1989.) International institutions and state power :essays in international relations theory /Robert O. Keohane. Primo search Linklater, Andrew. (1990.) Beyond realism and Marxism :critical theory and international relations /Andrew Linklater. Primo search Lukes, Steven. (1974.) Power :a radical view /Steven Lukes. Primo search Lukes, Steven. (2005.) Power :a radical view /Steven Lukes. Primo search Nardin, Terry (1983.) Law, morality, and the relations of states /[by] Terry Nardin. Primo search Schmitt, Carl (c1985.) Political theology :four chapters on the concept of sovereignty /Carl Schmitt ; translated by George Schwab. Primo search Smith, Adam (1881.) An abridgement of Adam Smith's Inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations /by Wolseley P. Emerton. Primo search Smith, Adam (1921.) An inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations /By Adam Smith. Primo search Smith, Adam (1904.) An inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations. Primo search Waltz, Kenneth Neal (c1979.) Theory of international politics /Kenneth N. Waltz. Primo search Wendt, Alexander (1999 (various p) Social theory of international politics /Alexander Wendt. Primo search Zimmern, Alfred Eckhard (1939.) The League of Nations and the rule of law, 1918-1935 /by Alfred Zimmern. Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7