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IR100: Great Thinkers and Pivotal Leaders: Shaping the Global Order

Subject Area: International Relations, Government, Psychology and Society

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Course details

  • Department
    Department of International Relations
  • Application code
    SS-IR100
Dates
Session oneNot running in 2024
Session twoOpen - 8 Jul 2024 - 26 Jul 2024
Session threeNot running in 2024

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Overview

The departure of the UK from the EU and political debates surrounding the election of important leaders including Trump in the US, are important reminders of the role ideas and political leaders have in shaping the global order.

Social media, globalisation, and populism are all having a significant impact on the stability of the international world system and the leaders behind these movements play a critical role in defining their impact on international politics.

This course places these changes in a broader historical context, examining the evolution of the global order across the last several centuries. Focusing on some of the world's most influential thinkers and leaders from Smith to Keynes; from Elizabeth I to Gandhi, you will examine how historically important ideas ascended, the leaders that defined these orders, and the interaction between the two.

Considering both the impact on international security and international political economy, you will be asked to grapple with important questions such as: What role do ideas play in international relations and do circumstances determine which ideas and which leaders come to the fore? As a result, by the end of the course you will have developed the capacity to analyse international relations generally and gain a deeper knowledge of several of the canonical cases that continue to influence the study and practice of international politics today.

 

Students who receive an offer for this course are also eligible to apply for the Academic Director's Scholarship.

Key information

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course. Students, however, should appreciate that the course will challenge them to engage a variety of materials across a range of substantive issue areas.  

Level: 100 level. Read more information on levels in our FAQs

Fees: Please see Fees and payments

Lectures: 36 hours

Classes: 18 hours

Assessment: One examination and one essay

Typical credit: 3-4 credits (US) 7.5 ECTS points (EU)

Please note: Assessment is optional but may be required for credit by your home institution. Your home institution will be able to advise how you can meet their credit requirements. For more information on exams and credit, read Teaching and assessment

Is this course right for you?

This course is ideal for students who want a rigorous introduction to international politics. It will also appeal to students who want to delve deeper into the history and evolution of the international system.

Outcomes

  • Understand the most significant shifts in international relations across the last several centuries

  • Interpret the relationship between ideas and political leaders and their impact on the international world order

  • Analyse the intellectual and political figures who are reputed to have shaped the global system

  • Develop a well-articulated and defensible view about the relationship between ideas and policy in international relations

Content

Jonathan Tam, Canada

The fundamentals of my course are covered at my home institution, but the summer school course gives me an extra breadth into how the industry works. It’s been a really good experience in diversifying my skill set.

Faculty

The design of this course is guided by LSE faculty, as well as industry experts, who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the course.

James Morrison

Dr James Morrison

Summer School Programme Director, International Relations - Associate Professor

Department

The LSE Department of International Relations is one of the oldest and largest of its kind in the world and remains a leading centre for the subject. It ranked 2nd in the UK and 4th in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 tables for Politics and International Studies.

LSE International Relations teachers have world-class expertise in their specialist fields. Our faculty advise government agencies, multilateral institutions, NGOs, think tanks and the media on the most critical issues – from economic and environmental policies to counter-terrorism and foreign policy. From foundation level to advanced courses, students build real-world skills and gain exposure to critical issues, questions and state-of-the-art thinking on the most relevant topics in the field.

Apply

Applications are open

We are accepting applications. Apply early to avoid disappointment.