Course Description
Review of international relations academic scholarship as relevant and important to policy professionals. Special emphasis on applications to both historical and contemporary cases.
Athena Title
Sem Intl Rel for Intl Pol Prac
Non-Traditional Format
The course is similar to Pre-Seminar in International Relations but with a special emphasis on MIP students.
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
The central purpose is to develop an understanding of the basic theories and approaches to the study of interstate politics. It also lays the foundation for further, more advanced study of international relations and serves as the cornerstone for the doctoral examination in the subfield. Students will gain a deeper understanding of realism, liberalism, and rationality in international relations. They will have learned the logic of game theoretic approaches, of how cognitive processes affect decision making, and the utility of political economy approaches in understanding international politics.
Topical Outline
Foundations: realism(s) Foundations: liberalism Foundations: rationality, anarchy, and preferences Approaches: game/formal theory Approaches: cognitive Approaches: constructivism/norms Conflict Democratic Peace Cooperation Political Economy Hegemony