Introduction to international relations

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A book like this relies on the input and patience of many colleagues and students. Our debts are suitably global and we would like to thank colleagues in the UK and Australia for the time they spent reading material and encouraging us to get on with it. In particular we would like to thank David Boucher, Peri Roberts, Bruce Haddock, Keiron Curtis, Edwin Egede, Stuart Shields, Jocelyn Mawdsley, Sophie Hague, Ian Hall and Andreas Gofas. Just as importantly we would like to thank Phil, Nicola, Victoria and Matthew for creating the space in their lives to let us write.

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Why do countries go to war with each other and why do they cooperate? How do domestic institutions or individual leaders impact a country’s external behaviour? Do international laws and institutions have any influence in global affairs? These types of questions have been central to the study of international relations for centuries. In the 20th century, Western scholars continued this tradition and established International Relations (IR) as a social science. This introductory course will examine the major theories of international conflict and cooperation that have emerged from this body of scholarship, as well as critiques of the discipline through the lenses of gender, race, and non-Western identity. It will also cover thematic issues such as economic interdependence, global governance, nuclear weapons, transnational movements, and the rise of new powers. The course provides an introduction to IR theory and instances in which insights from IR can illuminate the dynamics of real-world phenomena.

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