- Provide students with in-depth knowledge of current theoretical debates in IR;
- Teach students how to critically assess the strengths and drawbacks of various approaches;
- Teach students how to test and apply these theories;
- Exercise presentation skills and improve writing skills.
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The course consists of seminars in which we discuss past and recent theoretical developments in International Relations – the discipline. The course is aimed at offering a deeper understanding of theories, their assumptions, their drawbacks and strong points, as well as the extent to which they help us better comprehend and explain the world around us. Our discussions will pave the grounds for discussions in other IR courses such as International Security or Global Political Economy. Also, they will offer you crucial knowledge for preparing the research proposal for your master thesis.
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Bachelor's degree in Political Science and prior courses in International Relations and theories of International Relations. The course may be taken as an optional course only after previous explicit permission by the lecturer. Send an email to the course coordinator before the beginning of the course: (jutta.joachim@ru.nl). Admission will depend on your knowledge of IR theories and group size.
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- Two short written assignments and their presentation which together count 20% of the final grade.
- One assignment will be a critical appraisal of the assigned readings.
- One assignment will be an application of the assigned readings to ongoing or past international relations events.
2. The final take-home exam counts 80% of the final grade. The following aspects will be tested:
- Comprehension of and concise description of theoretical approaches and underlying assumptions.
- Critical reflection and evaluation of theoretical approaches and arguments, empirical evidence and applied methods;
- Application of theoretical approaches/arguments to current and past international events.
Regular attendance and participation in the course is a formal entry requirement for taking the final exam. Partial grades from previous years do NOT remain valid for other years.
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