Approaches in International Relations

The course introduces major theories and approaches in International Relations, including (neo)realism, (neo)liberalism, the English School, Marxism, constructivism, normative and critical theories, and postcolonial, feminist and post-structuralist approaches. It considers a range of criteria for differentiating between the theories and approaches and helps explain the proliferation of IR theories over the past decades and why some appear to ‘talk past’ each other rather than engage in intellectual exchanges or cross-fertilisation. It also equips students with the necessary skills to think conceptually when making meaningful comparisons between various theoretical perspectives of International Relations, identifying their strengths and weaknesses and applying them to real-world case studies. The course provides students with a rigorous analytical framework for analysing critical developments in global politics. It prepares them to navigate practical and moral dilemmas facing foreign policymakers worldwide and encourages them to reflect on their values and biases when examining global politics.