Introduction to International Relations

The major issues that are dealt with in International Relations concern war and peace, collective action, cooperation, international institutions and security issues. They generically refer to interactions between the units of the international system. All of these terms are themselves subject to controversy and are apprehended differently depending on the schools of thought which compete for the monopoly of ‘legitimate international thought’.

The aim of this course is to incorporate theoretical elements and articulate them with empirical ones. It will obviously be difficult to address all relevant themes and events in international relations. The choice was thus made to give an overview of the theories, actors, principles, objectives, and practices of international relations. The aim is to show that the international system is the product of individual and collective decisions, interactions, power relations, and struggles; the international system is also legitimated and structured by specific narratives which are partly constituted by the different traditions of thought in IR.

This course’s aim is to introduce students to the discipline of International Relations: the main objects of studies, concepts, and questioning, and to put these in practice through empirical examples. 

More specifically, students will develop the following abilities:

• Acquire a body of conceptual and empirical knowledge to study international relations.
• Identify the main actors, trends and dynamics of international relations today
• Develop critical thinking towards the reporting of international current events.
• Develop student’s awareness of the social, historical, and geographical contingency of the international system as they know it.

Required and Corequired knowledge and skills

It is important to show intellectual curiosity and to maintain a good knowledge of current events, it is therefore essential to read newspapers. This is needed to complete this course which can only provide an introductory reflection on international relations, and to engage more in depth with issues of international politics

The course will comprise 2h lectures. Prior to each lecture, one text has to be read: these readings are mandatory and must be read in a careful and reflexive way.

There will be a continuous assessment with two exams during the terms with multiple choice questions (MCQ) exams and an open question.

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

Course notes

• Université virtuelle

Additional information

 

Contacts

Professor Elisa Lopez Lucia
Email: elisa.lopez.lucia@ulb.be

Campus

Solbosch

Method(s) of evaluation

• written examination

written examination

• Out-of-session examination

• Closed question with multiple choices (MCQ)
• Closed question with Multiple Answers (MAQ)
• Open question with developed answer

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

The final grade comprises:
-Exam 1: 40% (multiple answers questions)
-Exam 2: 60% (30% multiple answers questions + 30% open question)
Both exams take place during the term.

Second session: it is only possible to retake Exam 2 (students keep the grade of Exam 1).

Language(s) of evaluation

• english