Understanding International Relations - history and theory

Timetable

Tha classes will start on 14th October 2026

 

 

• The world before International Relations (1) – the emergence of European nation state system.
• The world before International Relations (2)- political orders of East Asia and the Islamic world.
• Rise of Western powers and creation of the global international system.
• Britain as a Global Power.
• United States as an emerging global power.
• World Wars and their impact on the international order.
• Cold War – origins, evolution and consequences.
• Liberal theories of International Relations.
• Domestic determinants of foreign policy.
• Realist school of IR theory.
• Measuring power in International Relations.
• Alternative IR theories – Marxism, Feminism.
• Dependency and interdependence in the International Political Economy
• Constructivist approach to studying IR.

 

Module aim (aims)

- Development of knowledge and understanding of international order’s historic evolution

- Understanding of main theoretical approaches in the discipline of International Relations  

- Developing skills of using theories of IR and knowledge of historical precedents to explain and forecast international political events and processes

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Basic knowledge of world history and principal theoretical orientations in social sciences.

Syllabus

Learning outcomes:

 

 

 

- development of  understanding of drivers, circumstances and effects of international relations’ evolution throughout different forms of international order;

 

- Identification of  key turning points in historical evolution of the international system and explanation of their significance for contemporary international situation

 

- Presenting  assumptions, concepts and explanations provided by main theoretical schools in International Relations

 

- Learning to use  theoretical concepts of different IR schools of thought as tools for understanding and forecasting international events and processes 

 

- Identifying similarities and differences between historical forms of international order and the current international situation and analyzing their effects.

 

 

 

Teaching and learning methods and activities

 

 

 

Lecture with a multimedia presentation of selected issues, Conversation lecture, Problem-based lecture, Discussion

 

 

 

Credit condition:

 

 

 

- Group project - research of a case study utilising different theoretical approaches with public presentation of outcomes.

Reading list

• Buzan B., Lawson G., The Global Transformation. History, Modernity and the Making of International Relations, Cambridge University Press 2015.
• Kennedy P, The Rise and Fall of Great Powers, Economic change and military conflict from 1500 to 2000, Random House 1987.
• Kissinger H., Diplomacy, Simon & Schuster, 2005.
• W. Mansbach; K.L. Taylor Introduction to Global Politics, Routledge 2012
• Daddow, International relations theory. The Essentials, SAGE 2013
• D’Anieri, International Politics. Power and Purpose in Global Affairs, Wadsworth 2014.