Introduction to International Relations

The course aims to provide advanced knowledge in the field of international relations and the main debates and theoretical perspectives used in the research field. 

Within the course, issues related to how states, organizations (governmental and non-governmental) and other actors act in the international system and what consequences this leads to at the national, regional, global and local levels are discussed and analyzed.

Central themes for the main area of international relations are international security, international institutions and international political economy.

Central questions that are studied are: How do conflicts arise and how can they be resolved, how is power and resources distributed and what is the significance of norms, institutions and national identities for international cooperation?

The course addresses central theories in international relations and how these can be used to understand the type of international phenomena studied within the discipline.

 


    Teaching Format

    Instruction is given in the form of seminars.

    Attendance for seminars is mandatory.

    All courses on the Master's level are all held in English.

    Learning outcomes

    To obtain a passing grade, the student must be able to:

    • Critically account for, in a thorough way, central theories in international relations.
    • Reflect in a thorough way on central debates in international relations.
    • Analyze central social issues in a thorough way, using different approaches in international relations.

      Assessment

      The course is examined through participation in mandatory seminar discussions and through written exam.

      See the course description for more information.


      The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.


      Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.

      Valid from 2023 until further notice

       

      Books:

      • Angus, Ian (2016). Facing the Anthropocene: Fossil Capitalism and the Crisis of the Earth System. (Majority of book will be used. Available as e-book through SU library)

      • Buzan, Barry & Hansen, Lene (2009). The Evolution of International Security Studies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. (Full book will be used. Available as e-book through SU library)

      • Dellmuth, Lisa 

        and Jonas Tallberg. 

        2023. Legitimacy Politics: Elite Communication and Public Opinion in Global Governance. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

        (Chapters 1, 2 and 8. A

        vailable open access at:

        https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009222020

         )

      • Frieden, Jeffry, Lake, David, and Broz, Lawrence, Eds. (2017) International Political Economy: Perspectives on Global Power and Wealth, 6th edn. (Majority of book will be used. Available as e-book through SU library)

      • Marlin-Bennett, Renée and David Johnson (2022). International Political Economy: Overview and Conceptualization. Oxford Research Handbook of IR (1-2 chapters. Available as e-book through SU library)

      • Lourdes, Beneria, Berik Günseli and Maria Florolopment (2015) Gender, Development and Globalization: Economics as if All People Mattered (Part of book will be used. Available as e-book through SU library)

      • Strange, Susan (2015) States and Markets (Majority of book will be used. Available as e-book through SU-library).

      Articles and single chapters tba. For details, see the course description.

       

      Course reports are displayed for the three most recent course instances.








      For general enquiries regarding applications, registration, and more:

      Contact the Department's Master's Student Office: masterstudenter@ekohist.su.se 

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