UCSSCPOL337.5 ECTSEnglishBachelor
Advanced International Relations: from theory to practice
Faculteit—
NiveauBachelor
Studiejaar2026-2027
Beschrijving
Course goals
1. To know, have an overview of, and be able to navigate the plurality in the field, both historically and currently, and how it is shaped by different ongoing debates
2. To have knowledge of, and be able to apply, the different methodological approaches in IR.
3. To be able to independently investigate, articulate, and debate currently relevant, academically ground-breaking, and original contributions to the field.
4. To be able to reflect on the intersection of knowledge production (IR), power, and reflexivity in the context of the postcolonial global order.
5. To be able to conduct an independent research into a topic of choice in IR, making use of the plurality of theories, subject definitions, and methodologies in the field.
Relationship between assessment and learning goals:
a. Assignment 1 (10%, essay): assesses knowledge of IR perspectives (LG1) and methodological plurality (LG2)
b. Paper set-up (20%): Shows ability to navitage IR debates (LG1), methodologies (LG2) and of setting up an independent research (LG 5)
c. Presentation (20%, presentation), assesses ability to independently discuss state of the art contributions to the field (LG3)
d. Assignment 2 (20%, essay): Assesses ability to master the relation between knowledge, power and reflexivity (LG4)
e. Final paper (30%, research): Assesses ability to operationalize methodologies (LG2) and do independent research (LG5)
Content
Content
Building on USSCPOL23, this course offers a deeper understanding of the sub-discipline of International Relations, focusing on its main concepts, issues, theories, and approaches. The question that guides the course is: At a time of significant change and instability, what theoretical approaches to the study of international relations are helpful toward understanding current problems of global and regional order? The rules-based international system of the past seventy years confronts significant challenges. In this course, the focus is on understanding the changing world order. We will examine the problem of order through various theoretical lenses, from realism and liberalism to constructivism, Marxism, and beyond. Students will be challenged to employ these tools toward thinking about how global and regional structures, which help shape how states cooperate and compete, might be reimagined for a changing world.
Building on USSCPOL23, this course offers a deeper understanding of the sub-discipline of International Relations, focusing on its main concepts, issues, theories, and approaches. The question that guides the course is: At a time of significant change and instability, what theoretical approaches to the study of international relations are helpful toward understanding current problems of global and regional order? The rules-based international system of the past seventy years confronts significant challenges. In this course, the focus is on understanding the changing world order. We will examine the problem of order through various theoretical lenses, from realism and liberalism to constructivism, Marxism, and beyond. Students will be challenged to employ these tools toward thinking about how global and regional structures, which help shape how states cooperate and compete, might be reimagined for a changing world.
Format
There are no lectures in this course - only class discussions on the basis of the readings, presentations and other sources. Instead of an exam, several assignments and a final paper will be written. Peer review and feedback will be integral in the process of the writing of the final paper.
There are no lectures in this course - only class discussions on the basis of the readings, presentations and other sources. Instead of an exam, several assignments and a final paper will be written. Peer review and feedback will be integral in the process of the writing of the final paper.
Reviews0 reviews
Nog geen reviews voor dit vak. Wees de eerste!
Heb jij dit vak gevolgd?
Deel je ervaring met toekomstige studenten. Inloggen met je Universiteit Utrecht mailadres duurt één minuut.
Schrijf een review