Introduction to International Relations (240-0-20)

Instructors

Ian F Hurd
Scott, #306

Meeting Info

Harris Hall 107: Tues, Thurs 11:00AM - 12:20PM

Overview of class

This course examines issues in contemporary international politics and the concepts people use to make sense of them. The key concepts that constitute international relations - including order, sovereignty, empire, law, war, and responsibility - are at once powerful and also vague, ambiguous, contested. We look at current issues in world politics to see how concepts shape our understanding of the world and how the concepts are themselves shaped by political conflict. For spring 2024, the case studies include the law and politics of drones, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Israel's invasion of Gaza, human rights in British colonial history, and visions of global order across history.

Learning Objectives

key concepts of world politics: anarchy, order, sovereignty, law, empire; key concepts in philosophy of social science: positivism, causal inference, interpretivism, discursive power; key concepts of international law: legality, rule of law, strategic use of law, international institutions

Teaching Method

lecture, discussion section

Evaluation Method

midterm exam
final exam
participation in discussion
possible other assignments

Class Materials (Required)

Philippe Sands, The Last Colony (2022 or 23), Ian Hurd, How to Do Things With International Law (2019)

Class Attributes

Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl
Global Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

Associated Classes

DIS - Locy Hall 106: Thurs 1:00PM - 1:50PM

DIS - Locy Hall 109: Thurs 1:00PM - 1:50PM

DIS - Locy Hall 106: Thurs 5:00PM - 5:50PM

DIS - University Hall 412: Thurs 5:00PM - 5:50PM

DIS - University Hall 101: Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM

DIS - Locy Hall 318: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM