INTR1006 International Relations: An Introduction

Peace, cooperation, war, conflict, nationalist claims. Ever wondered why these phenomena occur? This topic provides insights into relations between countries and groups in the realms of security and military strategy, cyber security, international political economy, international law and culture.It concludes with an investigation into contemporary global concerns, including those of poverty, energy resources, the environment and religion. Two of the central questions examined in International Relations concern, first, whether the outcome of any issue that takes place across international borders comes down to differentials in power. Second it asks what is the sigificance of culture and ideas in these transactions.

Thus international relations offers the opportunity for students not just to be more informed in the matters of their increasingly internationalised world, but importantly it provides students with tools of analysis. As such this topic serves as a basic introduction to many themes that are taught in other upper level International Relations topics.

This topic aims to:

• Provide students with an introductory understanding of key International Relations concepts and perspectives
• Encourage students to analyse systematically the strengths and weaknesses of these perspectives
• Consider current issues in international relations in terms of their nature, causes and consequences
• Enable students to follow, analyse, and interpret academic writing
• Provide students with opportunities to develop professional skills in comprehension, analysis, oral and written communication, time management, and team work

1. Acquire an introductory appreciation of the international system and of the academic International Relations discipline which is devoted to its analysis
2. Identify and understand key concepts in International Relations
3. Evaluate three significant International Relations perspectives, and recognise them in specific case studies
4. Cite and understand the importance of significant events in international relations
5. Comprehend, critically analyse, and use relevant evidence in synthesising a reasoned, coherent, scholarly argument
6. Successfully communicate your ideas and arguments verbally and in writing