Critical and Postcolonial Approaches to World Politics

About

World politics today is characterised by increasing complexity. Alongside states, a myriad of international and regional organisations, interest groups, civil society organisations and even terrorist networks shape the dynamics of international politics. These interactions and the different ways of understanding them are at the core of this module, which examines key issues in contemporary international relations.

The module first introduces the discipline of international relations, outlining some of the central questions that scholars and policymakers have explored, and how the field has evolved as the world has changed. You will then study a series of pressing contemporary issues, including war, security, development, human rights and terrorism.

These cases and questions will be analysed through a range of theoretical approaches, including realism, liberalism, constructivism, Marxism and feminism.

Week one
Introduction to the study of world politics
Introduction to realist theories and changing balance of power (the growing power of China)
Introduction to liberal theories of international politics and the liberal foreign policy goal of democracy promotion

Week two
Introduction to constructivism
Application of constructivism to the practice of humanitarian interventions
Introduction to Marxist theories and underdevelopment

Week three
Introduction to feminist theories
Investigation of the phenomenon of transnational terrorism through different theoretical lenses
Change and future of world politics

Course leader

Dr Behar Sadriu

Course aim

This module aims to:

- Provide a broad introduction to the discipline and study of International Relations.
- Organise teaching around key International Relations theories and approaches.
- Combine concepts and theories with illustrations and case studies from international politics and current foreign affairs, emphasising different ways of analysing and understanding the world of international politics.
- Stimulate your critical thinking and debating skills through seminar activities

Fee info