International Relations I

The courses in international relations provide knowledge of the political, economic and historical conditions for current international topics such as the consequences of globalization, international security, as well as cooperation and integration both at regional and global level.

• Course structure

  The course consists of 4 sub-courses:

  Module 1: Introduction to international relations (7.5 credits)
  The course is an introduction to international relations and central theories within the subject. It provides historical and contemporary perspectives on international cooperation, international security and international political economy. The course covers different theoretical perspectives such as critical theories, constructivism, liberalism and realism. The course introduces students to relevant academic skills and methods.

  Module 2: Introduction to international cooperation (7.5 credits)
  The course gives an overview of governmental international cooperation in the form of various international organizations and regional transnational cooperation. Non-governmental actors, such as private interests, civil society, the scientific community and the media are also included. Overall, the course provides a picture of a system of global governance, which has developed over time. The course combines traditional theories of international cooperation with modern forms of governance, such as regime theories and organizational theory, applied to historical and current debates. The course introduces students to relevant academic skills and methods.

  Module 3: Introduction to international security (7.5 credits)
  The course provides an overview of both traditional and new international security issues and analyzes inter- and intrastate wars, but also conflicts and crises linked to health security, climate change, terrorism, cyber attacks and so on. Different theories are presented to analyze these questions - everything from traditional security theories to critical theories, eg securitization, gender and ontological security. The course introduces students to relevant academic skills and methods.

  Module 4: Introduction to international political economy (7.5 credits)
  The course is an introduction to international political economy (IPE). The course provides knowledge about connections between international relations and economic relations by analyzing changes in global production, trade and division of labor from a historical perspective. The module combines everything from classical economic understanding of IPE to more critical perspectives, such as gender and postcolonial theories, applied to historical and current debates. The course introduces students to relevant academic skills and methods.

  Teaching format

  Teaching in modules 1-4 takes place through lectures and group exercises in seminars. Participation in group exercises at seminars, written submissions and oral presentations is mandatory and a prerequisite for knowledge control to be carried out. Absence from a seminar must be compensated by a more comprehensive supplemental task before the respective part-course ends, otherwise no final grade will be reported. Absence from two or more seminars means that the student must retake the course.

  Teaching is held in Swedish and English.

  Assessment

  Module 1 – Introduction to international relations. Examination takes place through a written final exam in the form of a classroom essay. Final exams can be written in Swedish or English.

  Module 2 – Introduction to international cooperation. Examination takes place through mandatory seminars, written submissions, oral presentations, and a written final exam in the form of a take-home exam. Final exams can be written in Swedish or English.

  Module 3 – Introduction to security. Examination takes place through mandatory seminars, written submissions, oral presentations, and a written final exam in the form of a classroom essay. Final exams can be written in Swedish or English.

  Module 4 – Introduction to international political economy. Examination takes place through compulsory seminars, written submissions, oral presentations, and a written final exam in the form of a classroom essay. Final exams can be written in Swedish or English.

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

  • Valid from Spring 2025

  • Reading list EH1901 - valid from Spring 2025

  See syllabus archive for all reading lists

• Contact

  studentexpeditionen@ekohist.su.se