International Relations Theory

Aim

After completion of the course the student should be able to:

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding of important theoretical and methodological developments within the contemporary discipline of International Relations;
• comprehend how these developments are related to the history and practice of international relations;
• critically analyze international practices according to the various theoretical perspectives introduced.

Content

The central themes of the course are:

• main disciplinary trends and controversies since c. 1980: neo-realism and neo-liberalism as dominant modes of analysis;
• advent of post-positivism in International Relations; significance of the end of the Cold War;
• new theoretical and methodological approaches with special emphasis on constructivism;
• contemporary critical perspectives, e.g. post-structuralism and the feminist agenda;
• epistemological concerns, meaning the conditions for knowledge about international relations.