This document outlines the course structure and objectives for a Theory of International Relations course. The course aims to introduce students to the study of international relations through examining key topics like levels of analysis, state and non-state actors, theoretical approaches, power dynamics, the international system, foreign policy, international conflict, and international integration. Students will analyze these topics within the contexts of international security and political economy. The course will rely on lectures and required readings from five textbooks. Students' grades will be based on class participation, assignments, a midterm exam, and a final comprehensive exam.
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This document outlines the course structure and objectives for a Theory of International Relations course. The course aims to introduce students to the study of international relations through examining key topics like levels of analysis, state and non-state actors, theoretical approaches, power dynamics, the international system, foreign policy, international conflict, and international integration. Students will analyze these topics within the contexts of international security and political economy. The course will rely on lectures and required readings from five textbooks. Students' grades will be based on class participation, assignments, a midterm exam, and a final comprehensive exam.
This document outlines the course structure and objectives for a Theory of International Relations course. The course aims to introduce students to the study of international relations through examining key topics like levels of analysis, state and non-state actors, theoretical approaches, power dynamics, the international system, foreign policy, international conflict, and international integration. Students will analyze these topics within the contexts of international security and political economy. The course will rely on lectures and required readings from five textbooks. Students' grades will be based on class participation, assignments, a midterm exam, and a final comprehensive exam.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
This document outlines the course structure and objectives for a Theory of International Relations course. The course aims to introduce students to the study of international relations through examining key topics like levels of analysis, state and non-state actors, theoretical approaches, power dynamics, the international system, foreign policy, international conflict, and international integration. Students will analyze these topics within the contexts of international security and political economy. The course will rely on lectures and required readings from five textbooks. Students' grades will be based on class participation, assignments, a midterm exam, and a final comprehensive exam.
Copyright:
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Theory of
International Relations Course Outline :Objectives 1- Introducing the students of Political Science to the study of international relations. 2- Presenting the state of knowledge in IR. 3- Providing a map of the subject covering its sub-fields of international security and international political economy. 4- Developing the students' critical thinking of the phenomena in international relations, the issues that underlie such phenomena and the concepts and theories that interpret them. 5- The knowledge the students gain in this course will provide them with a solid foundation for more advanced and specialized courses in international relations. :Structure of the course The course will cover the substantive topics of IR both in international security and international political economy. The following themes are to be discussed:
First: The Study of IR:
1- IR as a Field of Study: 2- Levels of analysis.
Second: Actors in International Relations.
1-State Actors. 2- Non State Actors. Third: Theoretical Approaches to the Study of IR: 1- Liberalism. 2- Realism. 3- Neoliberalism and Neorealism. 4- Behavioralism. 5- Postmodernism. Fourth: Power in International Politics: 1- Elements of power. 2- The changing nature of world power. Fifth: The International System: 1- Structural characteristics. 2- Power relationships. 3- Economic patterns. 4- Norms of behavior. Sixth: Understanding Foreign Policy: 1- Determinants of foreign policy. 2- Foreign policy making process Seventh: International Conflict: 1- What is International conflict? 2- Causes of conflicts: The three levels of analysis: Individual level, State level, Global level. Eighth: International Integration: 1- Political integration: Theories of International integration: Federalism, Functionalism, and Neofunctionalism. 2- Political disintegration. Ninth: The South and International Political Economy: 1- The global south: commonalities and diversity. 2- Why underdevelopment? 3- International implications of development: Loans, Foreign investments, And Foreign aid.
4- The South and International Monetary
and Economic Organizations. :Required Readings In addition to the lectures, students are expected to read the chapters relevant to the topics discussed in the following text books: 1- Goldstein, Joshua S. International Relations. New York: Longman, 1999. 2- Kegly,Charles and Eugene R. Wittkopf, World Politics: Trend and Transformation. New York: Worth Publishers, 2004. 3- Nye, Joseph S. Bound to Lead: The Changing Nature of American Power. New York: Basic Books, Inc., Publishers, 1990. 4- Rourk, John T., International Politics on the World Stage. Dushkin/ McCraw. Hill, 1997. 5- Toma, Peter A. and Robert F. Gorman, International Relations: Understanding Global Issues. Pacific Grove, California: Brooks/ Cole Publishing Company, 1991. :Grade Distribution 33% of the total grade (10 marks) will depend on students' attendance, participation & doing the assignments required in the sections, in addition to the mid-term exam that would be administered in March. The final comprehensive exam in late May would take up 67% of the grade (20 marks).
