POL1301: Introduction to International Relations

Abstract

Course Description and Objectives: This course provides an introduction to the systematic study and analysis of international politics. It exposes students to major theoretical approaches in the study of international affairs and applies these approaches to the analysis of historical and contemporary political issues. The course has three main objectives: 1) to enable students to distinguish between different explanations of world events; 2) to teach students to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of varying explanations; and 3) to teach students to think critically about international politics and to develop their own analytical stance.