IR200     
International Political Theory

This information is for the 2017/18 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Jennifer Jackson-Preece COW.2.06

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 Environmental Policy with Economics. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.

Course content

The course consists of a two-part survey of international political theory. The first part deals with normative political theory. The focus is on debates provoked by classical thinkers such as Grotius, Hobbes, Kant and Marx. The second part of the course concerns contemporary IR theory. It explores the ways of explaining and understanding international relations associated with the major paradigms, such as realism, liberalism, and constructivism . Topics covered include war, peace, international law and order, international justice, intervention and non-intervention, sovereignty, diplomacy, revolution and counter-revolution, nationalism and national self-determination.

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 a maximum length of 1,500 words each to be set and marked by class teachers. They are also expected to give at least one class presentation.

Indicative reading

A F Lang, Jr., International Political Theory; C Brown, Understanding International Relations; H Bull, The Anarchical Society; E H Carr, The Twenty Years' Crisis; I Clark, The Hierarchy of States; M Donelan, Elements of International Political Theory; F H Hinsley, Power and the Pursuit of Peace; M Wight, International Relations: The Three Traditions; K Hutchings, International Political Theory; C Brown, T Nardin & N Rengger, International Relations in Political Thought; H Biddel, C Sylvest & P Wilson, Classics of International Relations.

A full course guide and reading list, will be available on Moodle at the beginning of the course. This will set out the structure and content of the course and providing detailed guidance on reading, sample examination questions, suggested essay titles, and topics for class discussion.

Assessment

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

The examination paper requires that three questions be answered out of twelve.

Student performance results

(2014/15 - 2016/17 combined)

Classification % of students
First 23
2:1 56.7
2:2 17.8
Third 0.9
Fail 1.5

Key facts

Department: International Relations

Total students 2016/17: 131

Average class size 2016/17: 13

Capped 2016/17: No

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

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

PDAM skills

  • Leadership
  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Communication
  • Specialist skills

Course survey results

(2014/15 - 2016/17 combined)

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

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 51%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

2.2

Materials (Q2.3)

2.2

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

2.1

Lectures (Q2.5)

2.3

Integration (Q2.6)

1.8

Contact (Q2.7)

2.1

Feedback (Q2.8)

2

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

53%

Maybe

34%

No

13%