International Relations (9550.1)

The purpose of this unit is to provide students with a basic understanding of foreign affairs and introduce them to the fundamental principle of international relations within the political science framework. These theories will serve as a foundation for more advanced study in the International Relations field. Topics explored will include issues that relate to the politics of global welfare, such as war, world poverty, disease, trade policy, environmental concerns, human rights, and terrorism. Students will learn about the ethics of war, the global distribution of wealth, the concept of the balance of power and its relationship to the causes of war, and what happens in the international system when the balance of power collapses.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Discuss and explain various analytical and theoretical positions used in the subfield of international relations to explain world politics;

2. Delineate the historical development of interstate relations and the place of the nation state in that development;
3. Describe specific issues of interstate relations, national security, war, economic integration, trade, and so forth;
4. Describe differences between national and transnational actors in the international arena, both public and private;
5. Distinguish between three levels of analysis of the international system: individual, domestic, and global;
6. Discuss the role of national power and diplomacy in international relations;
7. Identify and discuss major issues associated with international law and morality; and
8. Identify and discuss major issues associated with the international economy; human rights; and global environmental issues.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - think globally about issues in their profession
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures

Prerequisites

675 Politics and Democracy OR 9548 Introduction to Politics OR 8296 Introduction to Politics and Government OR 9549 Introduction to Western Political Thought

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

8295 International Relations

Equivalent units

NO.

Assumed knowledge

None.