Course overview
This course provides students with the tools to enhance their understanding of the increasingly complex arena of global politics. In recent years, we have witnessed the rise of new powers (such as China), inter-state wars, global economic and political crises, rapid technological change and the growth of non-state groups, such as transnational terrorist organisations. This course prepares you to critically analyze these developments through traditional and critical approaches in the discipline of International Relations, including realism, liberalism, the English School, constructivism and post-structuralism. By using the conceptual tools provided by these approaches, students will be able to make better sense of contemporary trends in global politics. In addition, by studying these approaches, students will gain awareness of the analytical assumptions that underpin policy making and policy analysis on issues of international political concern.
Course learning outcomes
- Understand the key features and assumptions of a variety of approaches to analysis in International Relations
- Evaluate the strengths and weakness of different approaches in International Relations
- Apply different approaches to the analysis of case studies of global issues, events and policies
- Identify and evaluate the core analytical assumptions in contemporary writings on global politics
- Conduct independent research utilising a variety of sources
- Undertake analysis of key issues in global politics with analytically coherent and substantiated arguments
- Articulate ideas confidently, thoughtfully and respectfully
- Work as a part of a team in the exploration of relevant content