IR100     
Theories and Concepts of International Relations

This information is for the 2017/18 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr George Lawson CLM.5.12

Availability

This course is compulsory on the BSc in International Relations, BSc in International Relations and History and BSc in Politics and International Relations. This course is available on the BSc in Environment and Development. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.

Course content

An examination of the concepts designed to explain the nature of contemporary international relations.

1. The emergence of the discipline and the nature of its subject matter.

2. Key agential concepts in IR: state; empire; international and subnational agents; foreign policy.

3. Key structural concepts in IR: the states system; Euro-centrism, globalisation, post-colonialism; global governance; security.

4. Key institutional concepts in IR: international society; great powers; diplomacy; war; balance of power; international law and human rights.

5. Key sociological concepts in IR: power and sovereignty; intervention; gender; anarchy.

Teaching

10 hours of lectures and 9 hours of classes in the MT. 10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the LT. 2 hours of classes in the ST.

Students on this course will have a reading week in Week 6, in line with departmental policy.

Formative coursework

Students are required to write three essays of approximately 1,500 words. They will also be required to give at least one class presentation.

Indicative reading

A full course description and guide to reading will be provided: relevant course texts include J Baylis & S Smith (Eds), Globalisation and World Politics, 2nd edn, (Oxford UP, 2001); C Brown, Understanding International Relations, 2nd edn (Macmillan, 2001); R Jackson & G Sørensen, Introduction to International Relations (OUP, revised edn., 2003).

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 3 hours) in the main exam period.

Sample papers are included in the full course description.

Student performance results

(2014/15 - 2016/17 combined)

Classification % of students
First 19.2
2:1 57
2:2 21.8
Third 1.3
Fail 0.7

Key facts

Department: International Relations

Total students 2016/17: 172

Average class size 2016/17: 14

Capped 2016/17: No

Lecture capture used 2016/17: Yes (MT & LT)

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

PDAM skills

  • Leadership
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Communication

Course survey results

(2014/15 - 2016/17 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 61%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

2.3

Materials (Q2.3)

2.1

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

2.1

Lectures (Q2.5)

2.2

Integration (Q2.6)

2

Contact (Q2.7)

2.3

Feedback (Q2.8)

2.1

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

63%

Maybe

31%

No

6%