This module introduces students to the theory and practice of international relations, combining study of methodological and theoretical debates with an overview of key events/issues in international political history since World War Two.

On successful completion of the module a student will be able to:

On completion students should be able: 1) to critically appreciate the major forces that have shaped international and global politics. 2) demonstrate an understanding of a wide range of debates and issues relating to international history and politics. 3) be able to evaluate the main debates surrounding political, social and theoretical concepts in the context of key moments in international history and politics. 4) to make links between, and exhibit a critical understanding of the key methodological issues in international relations. 5) test the utility of international relations theory in explaining and understanding international politics

Lectures, seminars, essay feedback, and guided independent study

Knowledge and Understanding:

Ø  Understand how the boundaries of knowledge are advanced through research, and to be able to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, whilst demonstrating originality in addressing and solving problems

Ø  Demonstrate specialist knowledge of the latest scholarly research in the area of International Relations, as well as an ability to reflect upon theoretical and empirical issues in a sophisticated manner

Ø  Distinguish between the principal forms of reasoning and argument used in scholarly literature on international relations.

Intellectual Skills:

Ø  Apply skills of independent research

Ø  Gather organise and deploy evidence, data and information from a variety of sources, demonstrate an ability to appreciate and offer balanced assessments of arguments and information, and present the findings and conclusions in seminar discussion and the assessment essay

Ø  Develop a reasoned argument, synthesize relevant information and exercise criticai judgement in the use of information

Ø  Exhibit originality in the application of knowledge, together with a practical understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in the area of international relations.

Ø  Reflect on their own learning, make use of constructive feedback and manage their own learning self-critically

Discipline Specific (including practical) Skills:

Ø  Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of key concepts and arguments concerned with international relations

Ø  Critically compare and contrast different International Relations theories

Ø  Critically evaluate causes of and responses to changes in the international system

Transferable Skills:

Ø  Communicate ideas effectively and fluently, both orally and in writing.

Ø  Use communication and information technologies for the retrieval and presentation of information.

Ø  Work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time management.

Ø  Collaborate with others and contribute to the achievement of common goals.

Develop techniques for self-reflection and improvement

The opportunity for reassessment in this module

Opportunity to re-take failed components of the module after completion of PART ONE modules in semester 2

PART ONE – the vocabulary of the discipline

Sovereignty and the State System

The Traditional Foundations of International Relations Theory

The Evolving Nature of International Relations Theory

Human Rights in International Relations

The Use of Force

PART TWO - Continuity and change in contemporary international politics

The onset of the Cold War

The end of the Cold War

The post-Cold War world

The post-9/11 world

Continuity and change in international relations

Indicative Reading and Resource List:

International Relations Theory

Reus-Smit and Snidal (eds) The Oxford Handbook of International Relations, OUP, 2010

Baylis, Smith and Owens (eds), The Globalisation of World Politics, OUP 5th Edition 2011

Brown and Ainley UnderstandingInternational Relations, Macmillan 2005

Burchill, Linklater et al.,Theories of International Relations, Palgrave, 2001

Jackson and Sørensen Introduction to International Relations 3^rd edition 2001.

Steans, Pettiford and Diez, Introduction to International Relations : Perspectives and Themes, New York Prentice Hall, 2005

Sutch and Elias, The Basics: International Relations, Routledge 2007

Cold War:

A.P Dobson and S. Marsh (2006, second edition), US Foreign Policy Since 1945

John Lewis Gaddis, (1997), We now know: rethinking Cold War history,

John Young and John Kent, (2004), International relations since 1945: a global history

Walter LaFeber (1991), America, Russia, and the cold war, 1945-1990

David Painter (1999), The Cold War: an international history

Post-Cold War:

Ian Clark (2001), The post-Cold War order: the spoils of peace

John Young and John Kent, (2004), International relations since 1945: a global history

R.J.B Jones (2000), The World Turned Upside Down? Globalization and the Future of the State

P. Rogers (2002), Losing Control: Global Security in the Twenty-first Century

T.V. Paul (ed.) (1999), International Order and the Future of World Politics

T.C. Salmon (ed.) (2000), Issues in International Relations

K. Aldred & M. Smith (1999), Superpowers in the Post-Cold War Era

S. Hoffmann (1998), World Disorders

M. Sellers (1996), The New World Order

Post-9/11:

Paul Rogers (2008), Global security and the War on Terror: elite power and the illusion of control

R. Dannreuther (2007), International Security. The Contemporary Agenda

B. Gokay & R.B.J Walker (2003), 11 September 2001: War, Terror and Judgement

K. Booth & T. Dunne (eds) (2002) Worlds in Collision

P. Shearman & M. Sussex (2004) European Security after 9/11

Robert J. Jackson and Philip Towle, (2006), Temptations of power: the United States in global politics after 9/11